Oz Clarke, Britain's most popular wine writer, is totally in tune with what novice wine enthusiasts want to know, learn, and most importantly, enjoy about the fruit of the vine. His accessible and comprehensive beginner's guide is a wonderful treat for wine lovers eager to enhance their knowledge: Clarke lays out the rules of wine tasting, explains what creates a wine's signature taste, describes all the top grape varieties and their individual characteristics, and dispenses wisdom on how to make the perfect match of food and wine. A section on spotting "corked" and faulty wines also helps newcomers gain confidence in their choices. After discussing the basics, Oz takes readers on a world tour of wine through the main winemaking regions of Europe, the United States, South America, and other key producing countries.