Contains delightful explorations of food and cooking, among which are the collection's namesake essay and many other gems; with black-and-white photographs and illustrations.

The first edition of this popular wine reference was hailed by Jurgen Gothe of the Vancouver Sun as "the best new wine book in more than a decade." The New Wine Lover's Companion has been completely rewritten and updated to make it even better. No wine snobbery here. This book's style is relaxed and conversational, serving up information without intimidating its reader. Arranged alphabetically, nearly 4,000 entries include innumerable details on grape varieties; wine styles; wine-growing regions; wine label terms; winemaking techniques; how to buy, store, and serve wine; how to have a wine tasting; wine-testing terms; sizes and styles of glassware, wine bottles, and wine openers; ordering wine in a restaurant; opening and serving wine at home; temperatures for serving wine; and much more. This book is the only A-to-Z wine reference that offers phonetic pronunciations. It boasts a totally revised and expanded appendix enhanced with charts, line art, and sample labels. Praise for the previous edition came from many food and dining authorities: ..".an invaluable, user-friendly reference. I learned something from the very first page I turned to, and keep learning as I keep turning." --William Rice, Food and Wine Columnist, Chicago Tribune . . . "A great reference . . . excellent and accurate source for both wine professionals and those involved with wine purely for the love of it." --Jacques Pepin, cookbook author and TV chef

Everyone knows how to drink beer, but few know how to really taste it with an understanding of the finer points of brewing, serving, and food pairing. Discover the ingredients and brewing methods that make each variety unique and learn to identify the scents, colors, flavors, and mouthfeel of all the major beer styles. Recommendations for more than 50 types of beer from around the world encourage you to expand your horizons. Uncap the secrets in every bottle of the world's greatest drink

Create you own backyard winery

From breaking ground to savoring the finished product, Jeff Cox's From Vines to Wines is the most complete and up-to-date guide to growing flawless grapes and making extraordinary wine.

Wine connoisseurs, gardeners, and home winemakers will find the latest techniques in this fully revised and updated edition. With thorough, illustrated instructions, you'll learn how to:

-- Choose and prepare a vineyard site

-- Construct sturdy and effective trellising systems

-- Plant, prune, and harvest the perfect grapes for your climate

-- Press, ferment, age and bottle your own wine

-- Judge wine for clarity, color, aroma, body, and taste

In 1985 a bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite Bordeaux supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson was sold for the sum of $156,000. Benjamin Wallace goes on the trail of this most expensive of wines, and meets along the way Nazis, conspiracies and millionaires.

Features frothy photos, at-a-glance facts, background histories, and expert tasting notes on some of the world's best beers.

Experience the best of all the worlds' beers, from bitters, lagers, Belgian beers, and weissbiers, to stouts, porters, fruit beers, real ales, and more

"Great Beers" features more than 700 beers from 350 breweries worldwide, hand-picked by a team of local experts. Brewery details, histories, recommendations, and tasting notes make this an essential book for beer lovers everywhere.

Whether you're going to Munich, Prague, or your local pub or bar, "Great Beers" is the ideal beer guide to take on your travels.

As any discriminating player will tell you, Beer Pong is not a fad-it's a True Sport of Champions. What is beer pong? Mash together ping pong, basketball, and darts, add copious amounts of cold beer and heated competition, and youre getting close. The creators of CollegeStories.com, GetBombed.com, and the Official Bombed Beer Pong Kit have written the first and only guide to the worldwide craze. Featuring everything from basic etiquette to expert techniques, tactics for smack talk, cutting-edge ball grips and flight paths, and tips for hosting a tournament, this invaluable tome will make anyone a champion of this burgeoning sport. So, drink up and game on

Cheers If you enjoy a sip or two (or three, four, or more), this compendium of drinking games is for you. Nobody will pass out (from boredom) and no party will grind to a halt with these popular alcohol-infused amusements. These liquefied challenges of knowledge, skill, and verbal skill--from a bartender, because who would know better?--are sure to please. He gives the best wacky variations on tongue-twisters, trivia, Frisbee, dice, coins, and cards, plus games based on TV shows for a night at home. All the directions are here, along with notes on the necessary supplies, ideal number of players, and strategy. Key information on universal gaming etiquette will keep things polite and no one will want to miss the slick suggestions for winning the next drink. With this dynamic guide at hand, an otherwise ordinary evening with a pitcher of beer will turn into a night of camaraderie and fun competition.

All the hangover cures recommended here have been created by the world's leading bartenders from the 20th and 21st centuries, and all were carefully devised to revive their suffering customers. "Hair of the dog" mixtures, such as Banana Cow and Suffering Bastard, guarantee relief from overindulgence, but if Breakfast Eggnog isn't your cup of tea, try one of the many fruity juices and smoothies. Dr. Andrew Irving also offers authoritative medical advice on the short- and long-term effects of too many rough nights. The book deals with the science of a hangover, including the role of coffee and water, plus the history of weird and wonderful hangover cures since antiquity.