The Book of Wine by Joseph, Robert
The Book of Wine By Robert Joseph (Collectible First Edition Copy)
An Informative, Jargon-Free Global Tour Demystifying the World of Wine from Grape to Glass
An Informative, Jargon-Free Global Tour Demystifying the World of Wine from Grape to Glass
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: The Book of Wine
- Author: Robert Joseph
- Publisher: Smithmark Publishers, Incorporated, New York
- Publication Date: 1996
- ISBN-10: 0765197842
- ISBN-13: 9780765197849
- Edition Details: First American Edition, First Printing (Collectible Wine Reference Release)
- Binding: Original publisher's premium hardcover cloth boards, complete with the original illustrated dust jacket, now beautifully preserved and stabilized inside a clear Cellophane archival sleeve.
- Physical Format: Large Format Quarto (4to), featuring over 200 vibrant full-color photographs, 35 authentic wine labels, and 40 detailed cartographic maps of the world's principal wine regions.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Exterior / Boards: The original publisher's cloth casing remains structurally robust, square-cornered, and remarkably flat. The spine is completely uncreased, unbruised, and straight, with crisp head and tail bands showing no signs of shelf-bumping.
- Interior: The inner hinges and binding are pristine and flawless. The text block is robust, tight, and highly sound. Internal pages and color plates are clean, bright white, and completely intact. Free from standard consumer ink inscriptions, wine stains, damp-warping, or dealer pencil annotations.
- Preservation: Meticulously looked after, carefully maintained, and now fully stabilized in a premium Cellophane sleeve to shield the binding from future edge wear.
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The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition: Present, complete, and unclipped. Displays very limited, minor signs of storage shelf wear and light surface rubbing along the perimeter borders and spine edges. Beautifully consolidated, clean, and seamlessly showcased beneath the protective archival Cellophane wrap.
Synopsis & Viticultural Value
Published in 1996 by Smithmark, The Book of Wine stands as a definitive guide intentionally written to strip away the elitist trappings, confusing jargon, and pretentious mystique that have long deterred the uninitiated wine lover. Celebrated wine authority Robert Joseph takes readers on a comprehensive, accessible tour of the global wine world from grape to glass. The book's geographic scope is beautifully democratic, covering everything from the grandest of Bordeaux chateaux to tiny, traditional estates in Chianti, high-tech million-dollar wineries in California's Napa Valley, and emergent regions stretching from Algeria to Zimbabwe.
The volume features essential structural guides detailing the location, quality, style, climate, terrain, and vintage charts of each major region, alongside a clear explanation of specialist terminology and expert guidance on food pairings with selected regional dishes. Richly illustrated with over 200 color photographs, 35 wine labels, and 40 detailed maps, this volume remains an exceptional reference for casual enthusiasts and collectors of vintage viticultural books.
Author Profile: Robert Joseph
Robert Joseph is an internationally acclaimed British wine writer, critic, consultant, and author who has published over 25 books on viticulture, including the bestselling Wine Buyer's Guide. He read languages and history before co-founding the International Wine Challenge—the world's largest independent wine competition—and launching Wine International magazine. Celebrated for his sharp, consumer-first perspective and his dedication to making wine appreciation highly accessible to the general public, Joseph has served as a senior judge at wine competitions across France, Australia, South Africa, and the Americas, earning numerous global awards for his contributions to wine journalism.
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