Wine Simple

A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier

By Aldo Sohm with Christine Muhlke
Clarkson Potter, 2019

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From the world-renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm, a dynamic, essential wine guide for a new generation.

Aldo Sohm is one of the most respected and widely lauded sommeliers in the world. He's worked with celebrated chef Eric Ripert as wine director of three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin for over a decade, yet his philosophy and approach to wine is much more casual. Aldo's debut book, Wine Simple, is full of confidence-building infographics and illustrations, an unbeatable depth of knowledge, effusive encouragement, and, most important, strong opinions on wine so you can learn to form your own. Imbued with Aldo's insatiable passion and eagerness to teach others, Wine Simple is accessible, deeply educational, and lively and fun, both in voice and visuals.

This essential guide begins with the fundamentals of wine in easy-to-absorb hits of information and pragmatic, everyday tips—key varietals and winemaking regions, how to taste, when to save and when to splurge, and how to set up a wine tasting at home. Aldo then teaches you how to take your wine knowledge to the next level and evolve your palate, including techniques on building a “flavor library,” a cheat sheet to good (and great) vintages (and why you shouldn't put everything on the line for them), tips on troubleshooting tricky wines (corked? mousy?), and, for the daring, even how to saber a bottle of champagne. This visual, user-friendly approach will inspire readers to have the confidence, curiosity, and enthusiasm to taste smarter, drink boldly, and dive headfirst fearlessly into the exciting world of wine. 

About The AuthorS

Aldo Sohm is the James Beard Award-winning wine director of Le Bernardin and a partner in the eponymous Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. Sohm was named Best Sommelier in the World in 2008 by the Worldwide Sommelier Association, Best Sommelier in America in 2007 by the American Sommelier Association, and Best Sommelier of Austria four times by the Austrian Sommelier Union. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Christine Muhlke is a contributing editor at Bon Appétit, the founder of Bureau X food consultancy, and the creator of the newsletter Xtine. She has authored cookbooks with Eric Ripert, David Kinch, and Eric Werner.

Reviews

“I always feel so at ease drinking wine with Aldo. While he is a renowned sommelier, he always helps me learn and listen to the wine, and this book will make you fall in love with wine again.”—José Andrés, chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup

“This is undoubtedly the best introduction to wine that I’ve ever encountered. I wish I’d had access to a book like this when I was beginning my journey as a wine lover. Aldo Sohm makes oenophilia fun without making it dumb, proving yet again that he is one of the world’s greatest sommeliers—which is to say, a great teacher.”—Jay McInerney

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