Wine Politics: a book update

winepoliticscoversm.jpg
I mentioned my forthcoming book earlier in the week in a post and there have been some very supportive and enthusiastic comments and emails! Thanks so much! Also a little bit of confusion, which I have no doubt created, so I thought I would clarify things.

I have the very good fortune of having two wine books coming out this year! The first, Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink will be published on July 1 by the University of California Press. In it, I trace the story of wine in France and America through the lens of wine politics–struggles against nature and society, where lines get drawn, how wines get made. Man versus man, man versus nature all that good stuff. There’s even a part where Britney goes crazy and shaves her head–oh wait, that’s not in there but I thought I’d mention it here in an effort to sell more copies.

Above you can see the cover art in all of its glory! I’d venture to say that I have the first ever wine book cover to be graced by a bottle in a brown paper bag. Covers matter, obviously, since buyers often judge books by them–and especially now since Borders will be displaying more of them face out.

There was a great essay in the Times on why it takes so long to get a book on the shelves if you’re not familiar with the book publishing process. One peril discussed in that article is having a book come out in the second half of a presidential election year. Even though it’s not a wine drinker’s guide to politics, it’s perhaps fortunate for me that this book on wine politics also happens to be coming out in a presidential election year!

The second book is the one that I finished writing last month when I gave you a head fake and said I was going to take a break from blogging and then didn’t. More details to follow on this one. But since the first book won’t tell you which wine to have with dinner the second one will–and more!–since it is Dr. Vino’s Guide to Wine. The publisher on that one is Simon & Schuster. It’s due out in November.

Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink (Amazon; UC Press)

4 Responses to “Wine Politics: a book update”


  1. Your wine politics book looks very interesting. Do you know if it will get east coast distribution or if it will be available through Amazon et al?

    I love the fact that we have grown up enough as a wine drinking nation that I can go into the wine section of my local bookstore and see a lot more titles than the usual references and how-to fare. Thanks for your efforts.


  2. Hey Jason – It IS great that the discussion about wine is broadening!

    Yes, the book will be available nationally. I’ve updated the post with a clear link to the book’s page on Amazon. Thanks for the interest!


  3. OK – after a reader mail asking what up with the “McMansion” sized photo I had previously, I downsized it to reduce my carbon footprint.

    If you’re nostalgic for the cover in all it’s hegh def glory, you can still check it out here.


  4. Interesting subject, Tyler… especially viewed from France where the freedom of expression is jeopardized and where journalists who write on wines can be condemned for “apology of an alcoholic beverage”… Who would have imagined such a thing a few years ago? Well, the oppressor here was not a politician but a French judge who hid behind his unelected status to pursue his weird crusade against wine. I am not sure that his goal was to influence the wines we drink but please, after mobsters, add the French judges…


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