Wine lovers appreciate not just the taste of wine and the pleasure it gives them, they also enjoy the lifestyle and culture associated with it and the values it conveys. Both a handbook and an illustrated history, this new guide offers all readers—from novice to professional—the keys to fully appreciating Bordeaux wines and their rich culture. Explore the wine châteaux, the Bordeaux wine trade, the art of wine blending, the rules of tasting, and the best food and wine pairings, as written by the world-renowned experts of the Bordeaux Wine School. This comprehensive guide to great wines, terroirs, and grape varieties includes a wealth of illustrations—lush photographs as well as original drawings, maps, charts, tables, and diagrams (plus links to 40 instructive videos)—that make this book essential reading for all wine lovers.

The Bordeaux Wine School offers training courses to professionals and the public, from beginners to advanced. Since 2006, the school has expanded internationally and today runs 30 schools and offers events outside France.

Sophie Brissaud is a prize-winning food and wine writer and journalist.