Book excerpt: Publisher description -- Here is a single volume is an unparalleled richness of information for both the beginner and the seasoned connoisseur: hundreds of full, precise entries cover every important wine and aspect of wine and every significant vineyard of the world. Ten essays chapters provide basic information on: the history of wines; the nature of wine and how it is made; the botany and cultivation of the vine; what wines to serve (and how to serve them) with various dishes; how to start your own wine cellar; how to judge the value of a wine (with a special evaluation of recent French vintages by region and year); wine and your health; what spirits are and how they are made; and the history of spirits and distillation. Seven detailed appendixes include: a quick reference vintage chart for the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône, the Loire, Alsace, and Champagne; special annotated listing of the Bordeaux vineyards; special annotated listing of the West German vineyards; pronouncing glossary; comparative table of spirit strengths; conversion table of measures; and a selected bibliography.