Essential Winetasting

Essential Winetasting won all three major British wine book prizes outright in 2000; The Andre Simon Award; The Glenfiddich Award; and The Prix Du Champagne Lanson.

Book Author

Michael-schuster Michael Schuster studied tasting in Bordeaux where he gained the University Tasting Diploma. After working in the early eighties to create an award-winning retail business he now works independently as a writer and lecturer, running his own wine school, Winewise, in north London. He is a member of the regular panel of speakers on the wine courses of Sotheby's and Berry Brothers, & lectures to both professionals and amateurs throughout the UK as well as abroad. He is on the Committee of Management of the Wine Society, and in 2002 he was elected a member of the Academie Internationale du...
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Book Reviews

  • Steven Spurrier, Decanter
    "A brilliant book by a brilliant teacher."
  • Andrew Jefford, London Evening Standard
    "A great teacher … the perfect wine connoisseur … his wine descriptions are succinct and accurate, and his understanding of the aesthetics of appreciation a model of unfussy sanity."
  • Bill Nesto MW, Beverage Business USA
    "The most effective winetasting manual ever written."
  • Stephen Meuse, The Boston Globe
    "A new wine primer that raises the bar …. A beautifully designed and intelligently organised wine primer by a fellow whose style is neither patronising, nor obscurely cerebral …every design element makes sense …. seldom expressed with such clarity."
  • Richard Ehrlich, The Independent on Sunday
    "Explains the mechanics of taste and tasting better than any book I’ve seen … one of those rare books that serves beginners and experts alike – I can’t think of a better guide."
  • Jasper Morris MW, The Vine
    "Aimed as an introductory guide, but even seasoned professionals may find a great deal of stimulating information in it."
  • Tom Cannavan, wine-pages.com
    "Quite brilliant in the clarity with which it unravels some complex and nuanced aspects of wine through text and illustration."