Champagne / Sparkling Wine Books

There will not be many wine enthusiasts who will not at least own a wine book or two and in most cases a small library. I myself have around 40 books on wine from many different eras and by different authors, I often refer to them when seeking out some finer details on wine regions / wines.

Though wine books today still remain very popular, over recent years we see far more resources available online such as websites, tasting notes, videos, podcasts, blogs and much more from everyday wine lovers to even the more acclaimed names in our industry. I’m old enough to remember the days when you went to the local library to research information or flicked through your Britannica encyclopedias to confirm a fact whereas today you bring up a new tab on your desktop and simply search on Google!

The main consumer focused wine books are led by famous critics such as Robert Parker, Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson who still dominate the sector and whose publications are likely to be best sellers and recognised by awards / critical acclaim by the press.

There are also many authors who are lesser known to the general public though highly regarded within the industry. Most will have a theme they focus on and have a series of insightful books that are seen to be bibles by fellow industry professionals.

We will also see many one off publications and those released for special orders or occasions. I’d put books that are both great and also quite standard in this zone, some are written more for the author over the needs of their audience (self promotional).

I have been collecting wine books since I first entered the wine industry back in 2014. I always had a close affinity to books and I’d much prefer to pick up a book to read myself than opt for an audio book / Kindle version. Some books I have because of the title and content, others for the cover and artwork and sometimes I’m lucky enough to have been given some as more and more people get to realise my passion for wine.

 

Champagne & Sparkling Wine Books

I mostly collect books on bubbly or at least contain a dedicated section / chapter on the subject. Even within this field alone, there are 100’s if not 1000’s of books to choose from and a wealth of information to embrace. Yes, as we mentioned before, so much information is readily available online, but sometimes there are (especially with older publications) unique content and importantly, reading material that is well written and researched.

Today it is far easier to write and publish a book than it was just a few years back. With the likes of giant sales platforms online, ie Amazon, and printing services allowing you to publish your book in DIY fashion, then your written words and photos can within a few days transition from a file on your computer to a printed book in your hand. I have done this myself with The World’s Finest Champagne & Sparkling Wines and their Recommended Food Pairings available on Amazon.

Here are some from my collection:

 

The first great book of Champagne that I saw and read was by Michael Edwards and his The Finest Wines Of Champagne (published 2009). I went on to meet Michael Edwards after reading his book and remain a fan of his work and I have also been lucky enough to work with him on different wine and food tastings. Michael Edwards is the Honorary Judge at London’s Champagne & Sparkling Wine Awards from Glass of Bubbly.

The way the book easily guides you through the basics of Champagne along with wonderful photography to me picks this out as a must have for any Champagne enthusiast. The book is as charming as the author himself, a wealth of knowledge that is delivered to you harmoniously.

 

 

Rather similar in layout to that of The Finest Wines of Champagne, a detailed overview of Champagne followed by a wonderful directory of some of the finest Champagne houses with details, photos of labels, wineries, bottles and more. Written by Éric Glatre & Angélique de la Chaize, published in 2001 – Champagne Pleasure shared. Much is outdated in the wineries section from label designs to current vintages (many likely to be sold out now), yet the book holds character and charm plus is a good Champagne winery history reference point.

 

 

One of the older books from my collection, a 1958 first edition, is The French Vineyards by Denis Morris. The author takes you on a relaxing journey through France’s most famous wine regions, the Champagne commences things off in the book and though only a short 35 pages, it is a most charming read. This book was a gift and remains a favourite in my collection.

 

 

Let’s get back to the present and a book from the ever reliable and both public and industry favourite, Oz Clarke. Here he introduces the up and coming world of English Wine from Still to Sparkling. This book is a great start off point for anyone wanting to see what the English wine world holds and is written very positively and with great optimism (rightly so). We take a journey across the country with many wineries highlighted. Easy to read with plenty of factual content. Published 2020.

 

 

We mustn’t leave out the Italians when it comes to sparkling wines and one bulky publication that I love is Andrea Zanfi‘s 2014 publication that was done for the Villa Sandi winery – Prosecco on the Road Italian Sparkling Wine. The book takes you across the Prosecco region and presents the lifestyle through the bubbles it holds. It really pulls you into the wine tourism / lifestyle side of this world famous wine region as well as focusing on the wines, buildings and family of Villa Sandi.

From Venice to the hills of Cartizze, there is a real absorbing style of writing and plenty of photography to help you to picture yourself being there or for those readers who know the region well, to help bring back fond memories with every page turned.

Final thoughts:

I suggest that you either visit a local book shop (sometimes you find gems in charity shops) or search online for books such as via eBay – There are countless wine books and those dedicated to fizz. I have not even skimmed the surface in this article, merely shared my preferences. Start with the well known and respected authors, see how they suit your taste and then branch off from there. Nearly all topics on wine are covered in books so whatever your taste you will find an author that will have shared your passion.