Chapter 1: X-Wines: In Vino Veritas?
Chapter 2: The Best and the Worst
Chapter 3: The Fame Game
Chapter 4: The Invisible Wine
Chapter 5: Money Wine
Chapter 6: Extreme Wine Booms and Busts
Chapter 7: Extreme Wine People
Chapter 8: Celebrity Wine
Chapter 9: Extreme Wine at the Movies
Chapter 10: Extreme Wine Tourism
Chapter 11: Extreme Wine: The Next Generation
Chapter 12: Extreme Wine Adventure
Mike Veseth is professor emeritus of international political economy at the University of Puget Sound. He is editor of the award-winning blog The Wine Economist and author of several books on the business and pleasure of wine, including the best-selling Wine Wars; Money, Taste, and Wine; and Around the World in Eighty Wines, which received the 2018 Gourmand International award for “Best U.S. Book in Wine and Spirits Tourism.” He’s currently working on his next book when he isn’t traveling around the world with his wife, Sue; speaking to wine industry groups; and looking for great wines and great wine stories.
Of all the wine blogs in the wide, wide blogosphere, one that I
look forward to reading the most is Mike Veseth’s Wine Economist.
There’s nothing else quite like it—a blend of economic insight . .
. and often irreverent winespeak.
*The Wall Street Journal*
Wine expert and editor of the popular Wine Economist blog, Veseth
(Wine Wars) returns with an entertaining and informative survey of
the wine landscape, past and present. Here, “extreme” is used to
define many aspects of wine culture, ranging from the extreme
temperatures necessary for preparing a proper icewine, to the low
pricing of Two Buck Chuck and Thunderbird, to the wildly expensive
pastime known as “wine tourism.” Veseth acts as an enthusiastic
host who is more than willing to share his insights. For example,
he explains how to quickly judge the quality of a wine by tilting
the glass to a 45 degree angle (the more intense the color of the
wine near the edge of the glass, the better it is) and why one
should never order Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio at a restaurant (it
is popular and routinely overpriced as a result). He even includes
a chapter on celebrity wines—apparently former NBA player Yao
Ming’s wine is worth checking out—and a fun wine-related
filmography, with countless sources for additional information in
every section. This entertaining read will surely resonate among
fellow oenophiles and novice wine-oes alike.
*Publishers Weekly*
No wine-making or wine-selling professional can afford to ignore
Veseth’s blog, which illuminates wine’s often murky economics. Here
he expounds on wine’s outliers, revealing those wines that have
unusual histories, are particularly expensive or cheap, or are made
under the most difficult conditions. Taking what could be an
esoteric subject and making it compelling for any wine drinker,
Veseth probes the best and worst that the world’s vineyards
produce. He chronicles booms and busts, relating how Prohibition
actually became a boon for vineyards as home winemakers of the era
snapped up grapes by the case for cross-country shipment.
Explaining the impact of international currency markets, he
documents how Australia’s strong dollar has dampened exports.
Veseth also details why the cheapest wines aren’t necessarily the
worst nor the most expensive the best. Surprisingly, celebrities’
involvement in winemaking has produced some bottlings that
transcend the media status of the vineyards’ owners. Not just for
geeky wine snobs.
*Booklist*
Veseth (Wine Wars), who blogs at the Wine Economist, takes readers
on a whirlwind tour of the world’s wines in the titular
superlatives. Readers may be familiar with French wines, but get
ready to explore Canada’s Icewine (made from grapes frozen to 17
degrees Fahrenheit). These highly concentrated wines (popular in
Asia) sell for prices ranging from $50 to $500. Veseth discusses
how Prohibition (1920–33) impacted the wine industry (most wineries
went out of business) as well as loopholes in the Volstead Act that
allowed four million gallons of wine to be legally produced in
1925. The most expensive wine should be no surprise to readers:
Bordeaux 2009. What’s the worst wine? Veseth writes, “That’s easy:
look down!” Wines can be judged by their prices, with the cheaper
wines located at the bottom of the wine shelves. Veseth asserts
that celebrity wines such as those made by Yao Ming, Martha
Stewart, and Paul Newman don’t necessarily harm the “real wine”
industry and, in fact, encourage wine drinkers to try new
varieties. VERDICT History buffs and adventurous wine drinkers are
sure to find interesting tidbits about the industry and encounter
new wines to hunt down. Highly recommended.
*Library Journal*
Extreme Wine shows just how fascinating and dynamic the wide world
of wine really is, with new appellations, wineries, and winemaking
techniques constantly emerging. So, if you are an explorer, the
horizon is continually shifting, limitless.
*Gayot’s Blog*
This book is not for the snifferati and spitterati. It is an
incredible and balanced study of the extremities of the wine world
and wines of the world. Veseth even found our 600 bottles of
extreme wine made in South Africa.
*Emil Den Dulk, owner, De Toren Private Cellar, South Africa*
Extreme Wine is a must-read for wine lovers and people in the wine
industry. It helps me to look at the industry from various unique
angles. I found myself jotting down idea after idea while reading
the book—of which many are now part of my plan for promoting Grace
Vineyard in China. Highly recommended!
*Judy Leissner, CEO, Grace Vineyard, China*
Congratulations to Mike Veseth for his outstanding book on the
global wine world. It takes a very creative mind and a
keen eye to see the center from the ‘extreme’ edges without
distorting reality. It is a book that grabs you from the very
beginning and once you start reading, you can hardly leave it
before reaching its end.
*Aldo Biondolillo, Tempus Alba, Argentina*
A provocative, engaging, and seriously entertaining journey
covering all the vineyards under the sun. Mike Veseth provides a
delightful sensory experience that will greatly increase the
reader's enjoyment of wine.
*Cobus Joubert, Maison Joubert, South Africa*
Extreme Wine is as broad as it is fascinating, with Mike Veseth’s
always perceptive insights into what makes the world of wine tick.
His book is a must read for all of us who eat, sleep, and breathe
the rich and wonderful life of wine, and it opens its hidden
extremes to the novice who might otherwise wonder why we find it so
immensely rewarding.
*Bartholomew Broadbent, CEO, Broadbent Selections, United
States*
Thanks to Mike Veseth, readers will discover and understand the
philosophy that leads each producer to create his or her own wines.
All our family is very proud to be considered ‘extreme wine’
people!
*Giuseppe and Rafaella Bologna, owners, Braida Winery (maker of
Bricco dell’Uccellone), Italy*
[Veseth] writes about wine business issues with a down to earth
populist ease. His enthusiastic, chatty style resembles a
conversation over a glass of Merlot in a wine bar. He makes his
subject highly accessible and clearly loves this world. . . . [His]
‘popular wine economics’ approach fill[s] a real gap in a readable
and informative way. . . . [A] good introduction for students and
those not experienced in wine business issues. There are useful
insights for us old shire horses of the trade too. . . . For
encouraging us to stop looking at our shoe laces and focus on the
big picture he deserves many readers.
*Harpers Wine & Spirit*
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