-
Godforsaken Grapes
- A Slightly Tipsy Journey Through the World of Strange, Obscure, and Underappreciated Wine
- Narrated by: Jonathan Horvath
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $18.20
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
There are nearly 1,400 known varieties of wine grapes in the world - from altesse to zierfandler - but 80 percent of the wine we drink is made from only 20 grapes. In Godforsaken Grapes, Jason Wilson looks at how that came to be and embarks on a journey to discover what we miss.
Stemming from his own growing obsession, Wilson moves far beyond the “noble grapes”, hunting down obscure and underappreciated wines from Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, France, Italy, the United States, and beyond. In the process, he looks at why these wines fell out of favor (or never gained it in the first place), what it means to be obscure, and how geopolitics, economics, and fashion have changed what we drink. A combination of travel memoir and epicurean adventure, Godforsaken Grapes is an entertaining love letter to wine.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The House of Mondavi
- The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty
- By: Julia Flynn Siler
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Set in California's lush Napa Valley and spanning four generations of a talented and visionary family, The House of Mondavi is a tale of genius, sibling rivalry, and betrayal. From 1906, when Italian immigrant Cesare Mondavi passed through Ellis Island, to the Robert Mondavi Corporation's 21st-century battle over a billion-dollar fortune, award-winning journalist Julia Flynn Siler brings to life both the place and the people in this riveting family drama.
-
-
LESS EXCITING THAN WATCHING GRAPES GROW
- By The Louligan on 11-27-09
-
Cork Dork
- A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste
- By: Bianca Bosker
- Narrated by: Bianca Bosker
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine - until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork”.
-
-
Interesting but not educational
- By Blake Brasher on 10-14-17
By: Bianca Bosker
-
The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste
- A Field Guide to the Great Wines of Europe
- By: Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first definitive reference book to describe, region-by-region, how the great wines of Europe should taste. This will be the go-to guide for aspiring sommeliers, wine aficionados who want to improve their blind tasting skills, and amateur enthusiasts looking for a straightforward and visceral way to understand and describe wine.
-
-
Annoying Narrator
- By Liana Reynolds on 08-31-22
By: Rajat Parr, and others
-
Adventures on the Wine Route (25th Anniversary Edition)
- A Wine Buyer's Tour of France
- By: Kermit Lynch
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Wine is, above all, about pleasure. Those who make it ponderous make it dull.... If you keep an open mind and take each wine on its own terms, there is a world of magic to discover." So wrote the renowned wine expert Kermit Lynch in the introduction to Adventures on the Wine Route, his ultimate tour of France, especially its wine cellars. The "magic" of wine is Lynch's subject as he takes the listener on a singular journey through the Loire, Bordeaux, the Languedoc, Provence, northern and southern Rhone, and Burgundy.
-
-
Finally!
- By Mark on 01-18-21
By: Kermit Lynch
-
Wine Simple
- A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier
- By: Aldo Sohm, Christine Muhlke
- Narrated by: Aldo Sohm
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Wine Simple is full of an unbeatable depth of knowledge, effusive encouragement, and, most important, strong opinions on wine so you can learn to form your own. Imbued with Aldo's insatiable passion and eagerness to teach others, Wine Simple is accessible, deeply educational, and lively and fun, both in voice and visuals. This essential guide begins with the fundamentals of wine in easy-to-absorb hits of information and pragmatic, everyday tips - key varietals and winemaking regions, how to taste, when to save and when to splurge, and how do a wine tasting at home.
-
-
As promised.
- By Anonymous User on 07-16-21
By: Aldo Sohm, and others
-
99 Bottles
- A Black Sheep's Guide to Life-Changing Wines
- By: André Hueston Mack
- Narrated by: André Hueston Mack
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this entertaining, informative, and thoroughly unconventional wine guide, award-winning sommelier, winemaker, and wine educator André Mack presents listeners with the 99 bottles that have most impacted his life. Instead of just pairing wines with foods, Mack pairs practical information with personal stories, offering up recommendations alongside reflections on being one of the only African-Americans to ever work at the top level of the American wine industry. The 99 bottles range from highly accessible commercial wines to the most rarefied Bordeaux....
-
-
Great guide to wine and life
- By Earl on 01-25-21
-
The House of Mondavi
- The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty
- By: Julia Flynn Siler
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Set in California's lush Napa Valley and spanning four generations of a talented and visionary family, The House of Mondavi is a tale of genius, sibling rivalry, and betrayal. From 1906, when Italian immigrant Cesare Mondavi passed through Ellis Island, to the Robert Mondavi Corporation's 21st-century battle over a billion-dollar fortune, award-winning journalist Julia Flynn Siler brings to life both the place and the people in this riveting family drama.
-
-
LESS EXCITING THAN WATCHING GRAPES GROW
- By The Louligan on 11-27-09
-
Cork Dork
- A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste
- By: Bianca Bosker
- Narrated by: Bianca Bosker
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine - until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork”.
-
-
Interesting but not educational
- By Blake Brasher on 10-14-17
By: Bianca Bosker
-
The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste
- A Field Guide to the Great Wines of Europe
- By: Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first definitive reference book to describe, region-by-region, how the great wines of Europe should taste. This will be the go-to guide for aspiring sommeliers, wine aficionados who want to improve their blind tasting skills, and amateur enthusiasts looking for a straightforward and visceral way to understand and describe wine.
-
-
Annoying Narrator
- By Liana Reynolds on 08-31-22
By: Rajat Parr, and others
-
Adventures on the Wine Route (25th Anniversary Edition)
- A Wine Buyer's Tour of France
- By: Kermit Lynch
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Wine is, above all, about pleasure. Those who make it ponderous make it dull.... If you keep an open mind and take each wine on its own terms, there is a world of magic to discover." So wrote the renowned wine expert Kermit Lynch in the introduction to Adventures on the Wine Route, his ultimate tour of France, especially its wine cellars. The "magic" of wine is Lynch's subject as he takes the listener on a singular journey through the Loire, Bordeaux, the Languedoc, Provence, northern and southern Rhone, and Burgundy.
-
-
Finally!
- By Mark on 01-18-21
By: Kermit Lynch
-
Wine Simple
- A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier
- By: Aldo Sohm, Christine Muhlke
- Narrated by: Aldo Sohm
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Wine Simple is full of an unbeatable depth of knowledge, effusive encouragement, and, most important, strong opinions on wine so you can learn to form your own. Imbued with Aldo's insatiable passion and eagerness to teach others, Wine Simple is accessible, deeply educational, and lively and fun, both in voice and visuals. This essential guide begins with the fundamentals of wine in easy-to-absorb hits of information and pragmatic, everyday tips - key varietals and winemaking regions, how to taste, when to save and when to splurge, and how do a wine tasting at home.
-
-
As promised.
- By Anonymous User on 07-16-21
By: Aldo Sohm, and others
-
99 Bottles
- A Black Sheep's Guide to Life-Changing Wines
- By: André Hueston Mack
- Narrated by: André Hueston Mack
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this entertaining, informative, and thoroughly unconventional wine guide, award-winning sommelier, winemaker, and wine educator André Mack presents listeners with the 99 bottles that have most impacted his life. Instead of just pairing wines with foods, Mack pairs practical information with personal stories, offering up recommendations alongside reflections on being one of the only African-Americans to ever work at the top level of the American wine industry. The 99 bottles range from highly accessible commercial wines to the most rarefied Bordeaux....
-
-
Great guide to wine and life
- By Earl on 01-25-21
-
Wine and War
- The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure
- By: Donald Kladstrup, Petie Kladstrup
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1940, France fell to the Nazis and almost immediately the German army began a campaign of pillaging one of the assets the French hold most dear: their wine. Like others in the French Resistance, winemakers mobilized to oppose their occupiers, but the tale of their extraordinary efforts has remained largely unknown - until now. This is the thrilling and harrowing story of the French wine producers who undertook ingenious, daring measures to save their cherished crops and bottles as the Germans closed in on them.
-
-
Good story, terrible performance
- By Sean on 05-28-12
By: Donald Kladstrup, and others
-
Understanding the World of Wine
- By: Brian Wheaton
- Narrated by: Brian Wheaton
- Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gain the wine know-how you’ve always wanted in this comprehensive course. With thousands of wines on sale in the US today, choosing just the right one for each occasion can be a challenge even for the experienced. To help you master that challenge and deepen your appreciation of wine and its inexpressibly rich lore, Master of Wine Brian Wheaton recorded Understanding the World of Wine. Whether you're a seasoned oenophile or a beginner, you will discover new insights in this set of 36 easy-to-use audio lectures.
-
-
A brief history of wine
- By Steve C on 08-06-18
By: Brian Wheaton
-
The Story of Wine
- From Noah to Now
- By: Hugh Johnson
- Narrated by: Simon De Deney
- Length: 26 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When first published in 1989, The Story of Wine won every wine award in the UK, and the USA. It is widely regarded as Hugh Johnson’s most ambitious and enthralling book. It is not just one story but a collection of many, scanning the wine world from Noah to Napa, from Pompeii to Pomerol, as illuminating to our understanding of civilization as it is to our appreciation of wine. Chronicling the making, merchandising, and drinking of wine through millennia, this new edition is fully updated to include Johnson’s view of the evolution of wine over the past 30 years.
-
-
The worst narration that I’ve ever heard
- By Pradip on 05-25-24
By: Hugh Johnson
-
Wine for Normal People
- A Guide for Real People Who Like Wine, But Not the Snobbery That Goes with It
- By: Elizabeth Schneider
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Schneider
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is a fun but respectful (and very comprehensive) guide to everything you ever wanted to know about wine from the creator and host of the popular podcast Wine for Normal People, described by Imbibe magazine as "a wine podcast for the people". More than 60,000 listeners tune in every month to learn a not-snobby wine vocabulary, how and where to buy wine, how to read a wine label, how to smell, swirl, and taste wine, and so much more!
-
-
When they want 5 star wine knowledge but ur 22 y/o
- By Alexia L. on 05-06-21
-
Judgment of Paris
- California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
- By: George M. Taber
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History houses, amid its illustrious artifacts, two bottles of wine: a 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. These are the wines that won at the now-famous Paris Tasting in 1976, where a panel of top French wine experts compared some of France's most famous wines with a new generation of California wines. Little did they know the wine industry would be completely transformed as a result....
-
-
Only for the wine-obsessed
- By History on 12-01-11
By: George M. Taber
-
Big Macs & Burgundy
- Wine Pairings for the Real World
- By: Vanessa Price, Adam Laukhuf
- Narrated by: Vanessa Price
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sancerre and Cheetos go together like milk and cookies. The science behind this unholy alliance is as elemental as acid, fat, salt, and minerals. Wine pro Vanessa Price explains how to create your own pairings while proving you don’t necessarily need fancy foods to unlock the joys of wine. Building upon the outsize success of her weekly column in Grub Street, Price offers delightfully bold wine and food pairings alongside hilarious tales from her own unlikely journey as a Kentucky girl making it in the Big Apple and in the wine business.
-
-
Fascinating listen
- By Allison H. on 10-13-20
By: Vanessa Price, and others
-
The Billionaire's Vinegar
- The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine
- By: Benjamin Wallace
- Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. In 1985, at a heated auction by Christie’s of London, a 1787 bottle of Château Lafite Bordeaux - one of a cache of bottles unearthed in a bricked-up Paris cellar and supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson - went for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. The discoverer of the bottle was pop-band manager turned wine collector Hardy Rodenstock, who had a knack for finding extremely old and exquisite wines. But rumors about the bottle soon arose.
-
-
Not just for enophiles
- By Julie W. Capell on 06-03-09
By: Benjamin Wallace
-
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Terry Jones
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A collection of three medieval English poems, translated by Tolkien for the modern-day reader and containing romance, tragedy, love, sex and honour.
-
-
An absolute delight!
- By Shannon Slee on 07-15-18
By: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
Iron, Fire and Ice
- The Real History That Inspired Game of Thrones
- By: Ed West
- Narrated by: Rory Barnett
- Length: 20 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A young pretender raises an army to take the throne. Learning of his father’s death, the adolescent, dashing and charismatic and descended from the old kings of the North, vows to avenge him. He is supported in this war by his mother, who has spirited away her two younger sons to safety. Against them is the queen, passionate, proud, and strong-willed and with more of the masculine virtues of the time than most men. She too is battling for the inheritance of her young son, not yet fully grown but already a sadist who takes delight in watching executions.
-
-
Fun history for all -not just Game of Thrones fans
- By Annabells on 06-14-19
By: Ed West
-
Whiskey Distilled
- A Populist Guide to the Water of Life
- By: Heather Greene
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this lively and authoritative guide, Greene teaches listeners about whiskey and encourages them to make their own evaluations. Peppered with wry anecdotes drawn from her unusual life - and including recipes for delicious cocktails by some of today's most celebrated mixologists - Whiskey Distilled will be enthusiastically greeted by the whiskey curious as well as by journeymen whiskey drinkers thirsty to learn more about their beloved tipple.
-
-
Buy the hard copy, skip the audio!
- By P Boz on 08-20-15
By: Heather Greene
-
Shadows in the Vineyard
- The True Story of the Plot to Poison the World's Greatest Wine
- By: Maximillian Potter
- Narrated by: Donald Corren
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Journalist Maximillian Potter uncovers a fascinating plot to destroy the vines of La Romance-Conti, Burgundy's finest and most expensive wine. In January 2010, Aubert de Villaine, the famed proprietor of the Domaine de la Romance-Conti, the tiny, storied vineyard that produces the most expensive, exquisite wines in the world, received an anonymous note threatening the destruction of his priceless vines by poison - a crime that in the world of high-end wine is akin to murder - unless he paid a one million euro ransom.
-
-
Eet waz eenteresteeng
- By J. Cadow on 04-25-16
-
Wine. All the Time.
- The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking
- By: Marissa A. Ross
- Narrated by: Marissa A. Ross
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this utterly accessible yet comprehensive guide to wine, Ross will help listeners to understand the ins and outs of wine culture, from how to describe what they're drinking to finding the best bottle for their budget to picking the perfect red for a boyfriend's discerning parents. Told in her signature comedic voice, with personal anecdotes woven in among its lessons, Wine. All the Time. will teach listeners to sip confidently and make them laugh as they're doing it.
-
-
Hipster Wineguide
- By Amazon Customer on 07-16-17
By: Marissa A. Ross
Related to this topic
-
The Juice
- Vinous Veritas: Essays
- By: Jay McInerney
- Narrated by: Jay McInerney
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than a decade, Jay McInerney’s vinous essays, now featured in The Wall Street Journal, have been praised by restaurateurs (“Filled with small courses and surprising and exotic flavors, educational and delicious at the same time” —Mario Batali), by esteemed critics (“Brilliant, witty, comical, and often shamelessly candid and provocative” —Robert M. Parker Jr.), and by the media (“His wine judgments are sound, his anecdotes witty, and his literary references impeccable” — The New York Times).
-
-
eye opener
- By FlGatorsGuy on 11-16-15
By: Jay McInerney
-
Judgment of Paris
- California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
- By: George M. Taber
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History houses, amid its illustrious artifacts, two bottles of wine: a 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. These are the wines that won at the now-famous Paris Tasting in 1976, where a panel of top French wine experts compared some of France's most famous wines with a new generation of California wines. Little did they know the wine industry would be completely transformed as a result....
-
-
Only for the wine-obsessed
- By History on 12-01-11
By: George M. Taber
-
Ferran
- The Inside Story of El Bulli and the Man Who Reinvented Food
- By: Colman Andrews
- Narrated by: Don Hagen
- Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his lively, unprecedented close-up portrait of Ferran Adrià, award-winning food writer Colman Andrews traces this groundbreaking chef’s rise from resort hotel dishwasher to culinary deity, and the evolution of El Bulli from a German-owned beach bar into the establishment voted annually by an international jury to be “the world’s best restaurant”.
-
-
recasting needed
- By Marco I on 09-09-18
By: Colman Andrews
-
The Mezcal Rush
- Explorations in Agave Country
- By: Granville Greene
- Narrated by: Kevin Free
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mezcal. In recent years, the oldest spirit in the Americas has been reinvented as a pricy positional good popular among booze connoisseurs and the mixologists who use it as a cocktail ingredient. Unlike most high-end distillates, most small-batch mezcal is typically produced by and for subsistence farming communities, often under challenging conditions.
-
-
Wow! Just Wow!
- By Si saben cómo me pongo ¿pa' qué me invitan? on 09-25-17
By: Granville Greene
-
The Billionaire's Vinegar
- The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine
- By: Benjamin Wallace
- Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. In 1985, at a heated auction by Christie’s of London, a 1787 bottle of Château Lafite Bordeaux - one of a cache of bottles unearthed in a bricked-up Paris cellar and supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson - went for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. The discoverer of the bottle was pop-band manager turned wine collector Hardy Rodenstock, who had a knack for finding extremely old and exquisite wines. But rumors about the bottle soon arose.
-
-
Not just for enophiles
- By Julie W. Capell on 06-03-09
By: Benjamin Wallace
-
The Brewer's Tale
- A History of the World According to Beer
- By: William Bostwick
- Narrated by: Christopher Sutton
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Brewer's Tale is a beer-filled journey into the past: the story of brewers gone by and one brave writer's quest to bring them - and their ancient, forgotten beers - back to life, one taste at a time. This is the story of the world according to beer, a toast to flavors born of necessity and place - in Belgian monasteries, rundown farmhouses, and the basement nanobrewery next door. So pull up a barstool and raise a glass to 5,000 years of fermented magic.
-
-
Good insights!
- By Michael on 03-08-16
By: William Bostwick
-
The Juice
- Vinous Veritas: Essays
- By: Jay McInerney
- Narrated by: Jay McInerney
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than a decade, Jay McInerney’s vinous essays, now featured in The Wall Street Journal, have been praised by restaurateurs (“Filled with small courses and surprising and exotic flavors, educational and delicious at the same time” —Mario Batali), by esteemed critics (“Brilliant, witty, comical, and often shamelessly candid and provocative” —Robert M. Parker Jr.), and by the media (“His wine judgments are sound, his anecdotes witty, and his literary references impeccable” — The New York Times).
-
-
eye opener
- By FlGatorsGuy on 11-16-15
By: Jay McInerney
-
Judgment of Paris
- California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
- By: George M. Taber
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History houses, amid its illustrious artifacts, two bottles of wine: a 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. These are the wines that won at the now-famous Paris Tasting in 1976, where a panel of top French wine experts compared some of France's most famous wines with a new generation of California wines. Little did they know the wine industry would be completely transformed as a result....
-
-
Only for the wine-obsessed
- By History on 12-01-11
By: George M. Taber
-
Ferran
- The Inside Story of El Bulli and the Man Who Reinvented Food
- By: Colman Andrews
- Narrated by: Don Hagen
- Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his lively, unprecedented close-up portrait of Ferran Adrià, award-winning food writer Colman Andrews traces this groundbreaking chef’s rise from resort hotel dishwasher to culinary deity, and the evolution of El Bulli from a German-owned beach bar into the establishment voted annually by an international jury to be “the world’s best restaurant”.
-
-
recasting needed
- By Marco I on 09-09-18
By: Colman Andrews
-
The Mezcal Rush
- Explorations in Agave Country
- By: Granville Greene
- Narrated by: Kevin Free
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mezcal. In recent years, the oldest spirit in the Americas has been reinvented as a pricy positional good popular among booze connoisseurs and the mixologists who use it as a cocktail ingredient. Unlike most high-end distillates, most small-batch mezcal is typically produced by and for subsistence farming communities, often under challenging conditions.
-
-
Wow! Just Wow!
- By Si saben cómo me pongo ¿pa' qué me invitan? on 09-25-17
By: Granville Greene
-
The Billionaire's Vinegar
- The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine
- By: Benjamin Wallace
- Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. In 1985, at a heated auction by Christie’s of London, a 1787 bottle of Château Lafite Bordeaux - one of a cache of bottles unearthed in a bricked-up Paris cellar and supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson - went for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. The discoverer of the bottle was pop-band manager turned wine collector Hardy Rodenstock, who had a knack for finding extremely old and exquisite wines. But rumors about the bottle soon arose.
-
-
Not just for enophiles
- By Julie W. Capell on 06-03-09
By: Benjamin Wallace
-
The Brewer's Tale
- A History of the World According to Beer
- By: William Bostwick
- Narrated by: Christopher Sutton
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Brewer's Tale is a beer-filled journey into the past: the story of brewers gone by and one brave writer's quest to bring them - and their ancient, forgotten beers - back to life, one taste at a time. This is the story of the world according to beer, a toast to flavors born of necessity and place - in Belgian monasteries, rundown farmhouses, and the basement nanobrewery next door. So pull up a barstool and raise a glass to 5,000 years of fermented magic.
-
-
Good insights!
- By Michael on 03-08-16
By: William Bostwick
-
My Twenty-Five Years in Provence
- Reflections on Then and Now
- By: Peter Mayle
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A celebration of 25 years of Provençal living - of lessons learned and changes observed - with his final book, Peter Mayle has crafted a lasting love letter to his adopted home, marked by his signature warmth, wit, and humor.
-
-
The narrator ruins it for me.
- By Flossiesmommy on 07-05-18
By: Peter Mayle
-
Napa
- By: James Conaway
- Narrated by: John Morgan
- Length: 20 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
James Conaway's remarkable bestseller delves into the heart of California's lush and verdant Napa Valley, also known as America's Eden. Long the source of succulent grapes and singular wines, this region is also the setting for the remarkable true saga of the personalities behind the winemaking empires. This is the story of Gallos and Mondavis, of fortunes made and lost, of dynasties and destinies.
-
-
Excellent But Marred by Non-Stop Mispronunciations
- By Robert R. on 08-15-13
By: James Conaway
-
Shadows in the Vineyard
- The True Story of the Plot to Poison the World's Greatest Wine
- By: Maximillian Potter
- Narrated by: Donald Corren
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Journalist Maximillian Potter uncovers a fascinating plot to destroy the vines of La Romance-Conti, Burgundy's finest and most expensive wine. In January 2010, Aubert de Villaine, the famed proprietor of the Domaine de la Romance-Conti, the tiny, storied vineyard that produces the most expensive, exquisite wines in the world, received an anonymous note threatening the destruction of his priceless vines by poison - a crime that in the world of high-end wine is akin to murder - unless he paid a one million euro ransom.
-
-
Eet waz eenteresteeng
- By J. Cadow on 04-25-16
-
Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll
- How Food Lovers, Free Spirits, Misfits and Wanderers Created a New American Profession
- By: Andrew Friedman
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll transports listeners back in time to witness the remarkable evolution of the American restaurant chef in the 1970s and 1980s. Andrew Friedman goes inside Chez Panisse and other Bay Area restaurants to show how the politically charged backdrop of Berkeley helped spark this new profession; into the historically underrated community of Los Angeles chefs, including a young Wolfgang Puck; and into the clash of cultures between established French chefs in New York City and the American game changers.
-
-
the reader makes the audiobook - unfortunately
- By Lawrie Thicke on 04-20-19
By: Andrew Friedman
-
The Road to Burgundy
- The Unlikely Story of an American Making Wine and a New Life in France
- By: Ray Walker
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ray Walker had a secure career in finance until a wine-tasting vacation ignited a passion that he couldn't stifle. Ray neglected his work, spending hours poring over ancient French winemaking texts, learning the techniques and the language, and daydreaming about vineyards. After Ray experienced his first taste of wine from Burgundy, he could wait no longer. He quit his job and went to France to start a winery - with little money, a limited command of French, and virtually no winemaking experience.
-
-
Inspiring story: I wish he'd learn some humility!
- By Desmond on 12-15-14
By: Ray Walker
-
Provence, 1970
- M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste
- By: Luke Barr
- Narrated by: John Rubinstein
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Provence, 1970 is about a singular historic moment. In the winter of that year, more or less coincidentally, the iconic culinary figures James Beard, M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, Richard Olney, Simone Beck, and Judith Jones found themselves together in the South of France. They cooked and ate, talked and argued, about the future of food in America, the meaning of taste, and the limits of snobbery.
-
-
Superb Narration, Engrossing Tale
- By Robert R. on 10-22-13
By: Luke Barr
-
Whiskey Distilled
- A Populist Guide to the Water of Life
- By: Heather Greene
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this lively and authoritative guide, Greene teaches listeners about whiskey and encourages them to make their own evaluations. Peppered with wry anecdotes drawn from her unusual life - and including recipes for delicious cocktails by some of today's most celebrated mixologists - Whiskey Distilled will be enthusiastically greeted by the whiskey curious as well as by journeymen whiskey drinkers thirsty to learn more about their beloved tipple.
-
-
Buy the hard copy, skip the audio!
- By P Boz on 08-20-15
By: Heather Greene
-
Wine for Normal People
- A Guide for Real People Who Like Wine, But Not the Snobbery That Goes with It
- By: Elizabeth Schneider
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Schneider
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is a fun but respectful (and very comprehensive) guide to everything you ever wanted to know about wine from the creator and host of the popular podcast Wine for Normal People, described by Imbibe magazine as "a wine podcast for the people". More than 60,000 listeners tune in every month to learn a not-snobby wine vocabulary, how and where to buy wine, how to read a wine label, how to smell, swirl, and taste wine, and so much more!
-
-
When they want 5 star wine knowledge but ur 22 y/o
- By Alexia L. on 05-06-21
-
Restaurant Man
- By: Joe Bastianich
- Narrated by: Joe Bastianich
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How does a nice Italian boy from Queens turn his passion for food and wine into a nationwide empire? In his intrepid, irreverent, and terrifically entertaining memoir, Restaurant Man, Joe Bastianich charts his remarkable culinary journey from his parents’ neighborhood eatery to becoming one of the country’s most successful restaurateurs, along with his superstar chef partners: his mother, Lidia Bastianich, and Mario Batali.
-
-
If you liked Kitchen Confidential you'll...
- By J.D. McPherson on 02-19-16
By: Joe Bastianich
-
Paris to the Moon
- By: Adam Gopnik
- Narrated by: Adam Gopnik
- Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Paris. The name alone conjures images of chestnut-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés, breathtaking façades around every corner: in short, an exquisite romanticism that has captured the American imagination for as long as there have been Americans.
-
-
Wish this wasn't abridged!!
- By Sarah D. on 03-25-17
By: Adam Gopnik
-
Almost French
- By: Sarah Turnbull
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After backpacking her way around Europe journalist Sarah Turnbull is ready to embark on one last adventure before heading home to Sydney. A chance meeting with a charming Frenchman in Bucharest changes her travel plans forever. Acting on impulse, she agrees to visit Fredric in Paris for a week. Put a very French Frenchman together with a strong-willed Australian girl and the result is some spectacular - and often hilarious - cultural clashes.
-
-
Almost Terrific
- By Elizabeth on 02-05-13
By: Sarah Turnbull
-
Waiter to the Rich and Shameless
- Confessions of a Five Star Beverly Hills Server
- By: Paul Hartford
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Waiter to the Rich and Shameless is not just a peek into the secretive inner workings of a legendary five-star restaurant; it is not just a celebrity tell-all or a scathing corporate analysis. It is a top-tier waiter's personal coming-of-age story, an intimate look into the complicated challenges of serving in the country's most elite, Hollywood-centric dining room while fighting to maintain a sense of self and purpose.
-
-
Not what I imagined
- By Autumn Larkin on 02-17-17
By: Paul Hartford
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Cork Dork
- A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste
- By: Bianca Bosker
- Narrated by: Bianca Bosker
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine - until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork”.
-
-
Interesting but not educational
- By Blake Brasher on 10-14-17
By: Bianca Bosker
-
The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste
- A Field Guide to the Great Wines of Europe
- By: Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first definitive reference book to describe, region-by-region, how the great wines of Europe should taste. This will be the go-to guide for aspiring sommeliers, wine aficionados who want to improve their blind tasting skills, and amateur enthusiasts looking for a straightforward and visceral way to understand and describe wine.
-
-
Annoying Narrator
- By Liana Reynolds on 08-31-22
By: Rajat Parr, and others
-
The World in a Wineglass
- The Insider's Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now
- By: Ray Isle
- Narrated by: Kevin R. Free, Ray Isle
- Length: 24 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Food & Wine editor Ray Isle does for wine what Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma did for food—showing listeners how to choose more delicious, interesting, and environmentally friendly wines without breaking the bank.
-
-
Needs a pdf
- By Dr. S on 11-26-23
By: Ray Isle
-
Battle Cry
- Waging and Winning the War Within
- By: Jason Wilson
- Narrated by: Jason Wilson
- Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For decades Jason Wilson was losing the war within - the internal battle that many men wage daily but were never taught how to win. As a result, he could not combat his toxic thoughts and emotions. Instead, he was conquered by them and communicated without composure - hurting those he loved and himself. This went on until he renewed his mind by releasing years of past trauma. His life and relationships were transformed when he learned how to master his emotions and express them with self-control. In the process, Jason became a better husband, father, and leader.
-
-
Not Bad, Not good: a Lukewarm Book
- By JragonEyez on 11-22-21
By: Jason Wilson
-
The Man the Moment Demands
- Master the 10 Characteristics of the Comprehensive Man
- By: Jason Wilson
- Narrated by: Jason Wilson
- Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For many years Jason Wilson struggled with trying to conform to the world's mandate for men, only displaying stereotypical masculine attributes such as brute strength, unchecked boldness, and aggression. But it wasn't until he discovered a pivotal truth—the moment you allow others to define you is the moment you lose your identity and power—that he was able to escape emotional incarceration and become a comprehensive man: a man not defined by others, a man who can become whatever the moment demands.
By: Jason Wilson
-
Wine Girl
- The Trials and Triumphs of America’s Youngest Sommelier
- By: Victoria James
- Narrated by: Victoria James
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At just 21, the age when most people are starting to drink (well, legally at least), Victoria James became the country’s youngest sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Even as Victoria was selling bottles worth hundreds and thousands of dollars during the day, passing sommelier certification exams with flying colors, and receiving distinction from all kinds of press, there were still groping patrons, bosses who abused their role and status, and a trip to the hospital emergency room.
-
-
Probably a better read
- By Sarah wilson on 05-01-20
By: Victoria James
-
Cork Dork
- A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste
- By: Bianca Bosker
- Narrated by: Bianca Bosker
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine - until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork”.
-
-
Interesting but not educational
- By Blake Brasher on 10-14-17
By: Bianca Bosker
-
The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste
- A Field Guide to the Great Wines of Europe
- By: Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first definitive reference book to describe, region-by-region, how the great wines of Europe should taste. This will be the go-to guide for aspiring sommeliers, wine aficionados who want to improve their blind tasting skills, and amateur enthusiasts looking for a straightforward and visceral way to understand and describe wine.
-
-
Annoying Narrator
- By Liana Reynolds on 08-31-22
By: Rajat Parr, and others
-
The World in a Wineglass
- The Insider's Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now
- By: Ray Isle
- Narrated by: Kevin R. Free, Ray Isle
- Length: 24 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Food & Wine editor Ray Isle does for wine what Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma did for food—showing listeners how to choose more delicious, interesting, and environmentally friendly wines without breaking the bank.
-
-
Needs a pdf
- By Dr. S on 11-26-23
By: Ray Isle
-
Battle Cry
- Waging and Winning the War Within
- By: Jason Wilson
- Narrated by: Jason Wilson
- Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For decades Jason Wilson was losing the war within - the internal battle that many men wage daily but were never taught how to win. As a result, he could not combat his toxic thoughts and emotions. Instead, he was conquered by them and communicated without composure - hurting those he loved and himself. This went on until he renewed his mind by releasing years of past trauma. His life and relationships were transformed when he learned how to master his emotions and express them with self-control. In the process, Jason became a better husband, father, and leader.
-
-
Not Bad, Not good: a Lukewarm Book
- By JragonEyez on 11-22-21
By: Jason Wilson
-
The Man the Moment Demands
- Master the 10 Characteristics of the Comprehensive Man
- By: Jason Wilson
- Narrated by: Jason Wilson
- Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For many years Jason Wilson struggled with trying to conform to the world's mandate for men, only displaying stereotypical masculine attributes such as brute strength, unchecked boldness, and aggression. But it wasn't until he discovered a pivotal truth—the moment you allow others to define you is the moment you lose your identity and power—that he was able to escape emotional incarceration and become a comprehensive man: a man not defined by others, a man who can become whatever the moment demands.
By: Jason Wilson
-
Wine Girl
- The Trials and Triumphs of America’s Youngest Sommelier
- By: Victoria James
- Narrated by: Victoria James
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At just 21, the age when most people are starting to drink (well, legally at least), Victoria James became the country’s youngest sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Even as Victoria was selling bottles worth hundreds and thousands of dollars during the day, passing sommelier certification exams with flying colors, and receiving distinction from all kinds of press, there were still groping patrons, bosses who abused their role and status, and a trip to the hospital emergency room.
-
-
Probably a better read
- By Sarah wilson on 05-01-20
By: Victoria James
What listeners say about Godforsaken Grapes
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kate
- 12-27-18
An entertaining and informative listen
I'm in the wine business and I love books about wine, but a lot of times they are just not made for listening. They can be super dry--much better to read on the page. Godforsaken Grapes is definitely the exception to that. The narrator is wonderful, text is entertaining, and it is highly listenable. Learned a lot, but also just enjoyed the personal stories and the humorous flow of the book. Highly recommend!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 04-28-21
great lesson about wines may never see
loved it. the journey in this book was amazing and I may never taste these wines but his love for them makes this an incredible book. Thanks.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Brigida
- 05-12-19
Excellent! Entertaining and informative.
I loved listing to this book! I’m a Certified Somm and have advanced certification with the WSET. I’m a bit of a nerd so I loved that I learned so many fun facts and got to hear the names of grapes that I’ve barely even read about. I could really appreciate the authors journey of discovery and totally enjoyed the humor that he brought to what could have been a very dry subject. I laughed so hard that I was glad no one in traffic seemed to be paying attention to me! Highly recommend this book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cdeaza
- 02-05-22
Unknown
This was or is great book it show me is not all about the big name or brand is about the Journey you take when trying the unknown grapes and wine the its out there waiting teach you something new even like he say in one part of the book 📖 that he would try some new wine 🍷 but he would feel bad when he didn't find it good or Appealing To his taste or Expectations but if didn't try it he wouldn't never know.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Buretto
- 12-05-18
Useful for a casual wine taster
I bought this book as a resource for investigating new wine regions for travels with my father, who is closer to being the true connoisseur. I think the book provided some good ideas for further study. The author has a personable style, though his reliance for pop culture references seems a strained effort to establish common man bona fides. And there are a lot of references to hipster sommeliers, seemingly without awareness of his own hipster-ish tendencies. But all in all, a likable trip through wines and vineyards, and assurances that you needn't be overly impressed by wine snobbery.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Nicholas J Franceski
- 09-15-19
Solid wine book
Solid wine book exploring some of the more unknown grapes of the world. Engaging delivery keeps you listening.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Speed Britt
- 04-25-21
Great Journey, Entertaining and Personal
Packed with information. Text is presented with a lot of humor. A good start on the subject of obscure wines with placed in the context of wine marketing and trends.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Debra Chaffins
- 11-01-20
Non-mainstream grapes and their wines
What an interesting listen! Now I know how all these foreign names sound, but I’m not sure I could spell them. I’m going to get the hard copy of this book so I can write down some of the wonderful grapes, vintages, and regions I’d like to get wine from. Very enjoyable, interesting stories and views.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kevin Connors
- 05-03-20
Wine Nerd Heaven
I really enjoyed this book and have recommended it to several of my friends and colleagues. It’s geared towards wine enthusiasts who are looking to expand their palates, so I’m guessing casual wine drinkers would start yawning as soon as things like Chesselas come up. However, these ‘Godforsaken Grapes’ make some of the most fascinating wines you will ever drink. It’s just as much of a story about the unique places where these varietals hail from as it is about the wines themselves. If you dare to go off the beaten path and you will find some true gems. This book may not be for everyone, but I found it very entertaining and informative.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Karen C. Piantek
- 04-30-21
This book was written for me
I love odd wine grapes, and Wilson covered most of my favorites. Plus I added a few to my must-try list.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful