Wine
Top Australian Wine Books
In the ever-evolving world of wine, there is always something new to learn, exciting wines to discover, winemakers to meet, maps to pore over, and reviews to be read. As a wine lover, we know you can’t get enough, so here’s a list of 10 top Australian wine books for your vinous entertainment and education.
Shop Best Wines to Drink While You Read
Some are factual and some are fun, so make your selection and settle in with a glass of your favourite Aussie wine to keep you company.
Australian Books About Wine You'll Love
CRUSH: THE NEW AUSTRALIAN WINE BOOK
A new look at Australian wine by Max Allen, one of the country's most inspired wine writers. This book explores every aspect of modern Australian wine, from the grapes, through the winemaking processes to tasting and enjoying the wines. It covers more than 40 wine-producing regions and includes maps of every major area. Adrian Lander's outstanding photography completes this accessible yet detailed account of modern winemaking in Australia.
WINE DOGS AUSTRALIA
Wherever good wine is made, you're likely to find a dog scouting the tasting room or winery. Wine Dogs Australia 5 features over 130 wineries across Australia with stunning photos of their loyal pooches. Along the way, the mutts and purebreds are interspersed with a foreword and cartoons by legendary Australian artist Michael Leunig.
THE HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN WINE: STORIES FROM THE VINEYARD TO THE CELLAR DOOR
The History of Australian Wine is a unique inside account of the Australian wine industry's development throughout the 20th century. Award-winning writer Max Allen weaves together an oral history full of firsthand recollections from winemakers, cellar hands, business leaders and grape growers, offering personal insights into how Australian wine has received its phenomenal international reputation
VIGNETTE
American-born sommelier and former wine director at Melbourne’s Attica, Jane Lopes presents 100 bottles of wines she suggests will expand your wine journey and education about important styles, varietals, wine regions, and more. She also includes the stories of triumph and defeat that compromise her life of wine. In September 2018, Jane passed the prestigious Master Sommelier exam, becoming the first woman in Australia to do so.
HUNTER WINE
The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region, so its history and heritage are integral to understanding how Australian wine has evolved. Written by Julie McIntyre and John Germov, Hunter Wine gives new expression to connected histories of nature and culture in the Hunter Valley by viewing them through the lens of wine history. It was shortlisted for the 2019 NSW Premier’s History Award: NSW regional and community history prize.
AUSTRALIA'S FIRST FAMILIES OF WINE
Help celebrate the 10th birthday of Australia’s First Families of Wine with this luxury hardcovered cook. Shining the spotlight on 11 of Australia’s oldest and most respected family-owned, multi-generational wineries, it’s been written by esteemed writer and journalist Richard Allen, with captivating photography by Kim Baker.
THIRTY THOUSAND BOTTLES OF WINE AND A PIG CALLED HELGA
Todd and Jeff have had enough of the city. Sick of the daily grind and workaday corporate shenanigans, they throw caution to the wind and buy 100 acres in the renowned Hunter Valley wine region, intent on living a golden bucolic life and building a fabulous B&B, where they can offer the joys of country life to heart-weary souls.
AUSTRALIAN WINE VINTAGES 2019
First published in 1979, Australian Wine Vintages is the longest running wine guide in Australia. Author Rob Geddes MW (Master of Wine) has been responsible for this publication since the 25th edition. Says Rob, 'I am proud that our scores correlate very strongly to the scores given by judges in wine shows.'
STALIN’S WINE CELLAR
Written by John Baker and Nick Place, Stalin's Wine Cellar is a wild, sometimes rough ride in the glamorous world of high-end wine. From Double Bay, Sydney to Tbilisi, Georgia, via the streets of Paris, the vineyards of Bordeaux and iconic Château d'Yquem. A multi-million-dollar cellar and a breathtaking collection of wine (and one very expensive broken bottle) is the elusive treasure. The cast of characters include Stalin, Hitler, Tsar Nicholas II and a motley bunch of Georgian businessmen/cowboys toting handguns, in the early days of Russian business development that led to the world of Putin and oligarchs.
Looking for even more vinous entertainment? Check our Top 10 Wine Movie Picks, 5 Best Books About Wine and 5 Australian Wine Podcasts.
What are you reading, watching or listening to this week? Do you have a favourite we’ve missed in our list? Share your picks with us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out our other great articles on Australian wine culture. In the meantime, stock up your cellar in preparation for a good old-fashioned entertainment binge with our latest wine offers!