Red, white and drunk all over - Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean spent three years sipping, spitting and slogging her way through sun-drenched vineyards and cobwebbed cellars to bring us this witty, knowledgeable and exuberant book about the world of wine. In the ancient vineyards of Burgundy she uncovers the secrets of Pinot Noir, the 'heartbreak' grape, then moves on to the labyrinthine cellars of Champagne to examine the mystique of luxury bubbly and the grandes dames who made it a drink of celebration the world over. She compares notes with novelist Jay McInerney at a bacchanalian dinner, goes undercover as a sommelier for the night in a five-star restaurant, and explores the influence of powerful critics Jancis Robinson and Robert Parker. You may have a head for wine, but Red, White and Drunk All Overwill show you its heart.