"Lavishly illustrated, with over 200 black and white pictures, 31 full color plates, and 31 maps of every wine region in the world, the Companion is the only wine volume to combine science, history, geography, wine varieties, social and cultural information, and much more. Ranging from Abruzzi and armagnac to Zimbabwe and Zinfandel, from Dionysian revels in ancient Greece to today's leading wine research centers, its 3,400 alphabetically arranged entries explore all aspects of wine, including the latest advances in viticulture and enology. There are in-depth discussions of the climates and grape varieties of great wine regions of the world, and numerous biographies ranging from Dom Perignon to Robert Parker. The book discusses vintner's terms, business and legal aspects, and related topics such as distilled and fortified wines." -- Amazon.com viewed May 3, 2021.

This wine book provides comprehensive coverage on all aspects of wine making, and puts wine, wine-making and wine drinking into historical perspective.

"A companion is a wonderful thing and this one is no exception. Its unique combination of depth, breadth, and links between subjects is a perfect companion for anyone travelling through the world of wine, for those who are fascinated by it and those who just love it, for pleasure seekers as much as for students. If you already own a copy, why should you buy this 5th edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine? Because the world, and the world of wine, has changed a great deal in the eight years since the 4th edition was published and every single entry has been reviewed and updated to reflect those changes. The greatest challenge is knowing that even before the ink is dry, we will have started a file on possible updates for the 6th edition"--