Hugh Johnson on Wine: Good Bits from 55 Years of Scribbling

‘On Wine-which brings together dozens of articles, reviews, and introductions, from titles as various as Vogue, Decanter, The Sunday Times Wine Club newsletter Wine Times, and the journal you have in your hands, as well as snippets from Johnson’s bestselling books-has many moments where the writing transcends the ostensible subject matter.’

The World of Fine Wine

One of the world’s great authorities on wine, Hugh Johnson has been writing on the subject (among others) for almost six decades. This selection chronicles his personal take on developments that have revolutionised the industry for half a century and more.

Johnson’s prose describes as no one else can the endlessly fascinating characters and landscapes of the wine world. He tells of setting sail with sybarites and braving the perfect storm, he debates at length the Pleasure Principle, lip-smacks through decadent dinners, teaches and learns in Tokyo and files breathless dispatches from Beijing. He bids a poignant farewell to the loveliest vintages, decries peremptory judgement and urges the Slow Food philosophy; falls in love (again), this time with Tokaji, tells warm winter tales through a vintage port and sets out a summer picnic at the source of the Seine - all the while dryly annotating the scribbles of his younger self with contemporary marginal hindsights.

This thoughtful, illuminating collection will delight not only lovers of wine, food, history and travel but also anyone who enjoys the intoxicating power of words.