Secrets of the Sommeliers: How to Think and Drink Like the World’s Top Wine Professionals

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A fascinating exploration of the inside world of sommeliers, sharing their unique perspectives, extensive expertise, and best stories.

Rajat Parr’s profound knowledge of wines, deep relationships with producers, and renowned tasting abilities have made him a legend in the business. As wine director for the Mina Group, Parr presides over the lists at some of the country’s top restaurants. In Secrets of the Sommeliers, Parr and journalist Jordan Mackay present a fascinating portrait of the world’s top wine professionals and their trade. The authors interviewed the elite of the sommelier community, and their colleagues’ insights, recommendations, and entertaining stories are woven throughout, along with Parr’s own takes on his profession and favorite winemakers and wines. Along the way, the authors give an immersion course in tasting and serving wine; share strategies for securing hard-to-find bottles at a good price and identifying value sweetspots among the many regions; and teach readers how to make inspired food pairings.

Winner – 2011 James Beard Cookbook Award – Beverage Category

Our Top Reviews

Reviewer: Chambolle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Chock full of good advice
Review: Let’s start with the worst part of this book: the title. I had to hold my nose and buy it despite the horrible do it yourself, self improvement/self congratulatory vibe of that clumsy moniker. But don’t let that keep you from buying this informative and entertaining book, whether you are in the wine trade, a serious amateur, or just a wanna be.Ed Anderson’s excellent photography is one of the draws. There are some really stunning portraits of Dominique Lafon, Jean-Marc Roulot, Freddy Mugnier, Etienne de Montille and others.Another plus is the collection of biographical sketches of a number of high profile sommeliers — Larry Stone, Rajat Parr, Daniel Johnnes, Kevin Zraly and others. It’s always interesting to read how other people found their true calling.But the most valuable part of the book is the common sense advice about buying wine, where to find it, and how to cellar and serve it; along with insights into the day to day joys, trials and tribulations of the folks who serve the stuff up in tony restaurants across the land. There are brief profiles of the great wine grapes and the best examples of each — pinot noir, cabernet, merlot, cabernet franc, and so on. A discussion of the pros and cons of buying wine at auction, and how to find the best deals by avoiding the ‘blue chip’ names and vintages and using your wine knowledge to get value for money. A discussion of wine and food matching. How to pick your way through a restaurant wine list to find the hidden treasures to be found in just about every good list.A number of reviewers here appear offended that the book strongly emphasizes the wines of Burgundy. If that bothers you, I suppose you should stay away. If that emphasis doesn’t trouble you, or if it might even be a draw, as it is for me, then by all means pick up a copy.It’s a fun ride. Well worth reading. And apparently I’m not alone in that view – this just won a James Beard Foundation award for one of the best food and wine books of the year.

Reviewer: Bill
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The best wine reference book available
Review: This book was a joy to read. I am a wine novice yet I am eager to learn about wines and the culture of wine. The book is well written, engaging, and highly educational without being the least bit pretentious. Raj Parr is considered by many a celebrity sommelier, and his reputation is well earned. He is leading the way for a new group of young sommeliers and wine lovers with methods to better approach and appreciate wines. Reading the book helped me better select wines, find great values, and have a strategy when I see a wine list or go into a wine store. I can now pick a great wine and have a better experience. The book provides a solution for moving beyond Robert Parker scores and gives you the information to be your own person and understand what you like, not what scores tell you that you should like. I have read many wine books and this is clearly the best. I continue to use it as my primary reference guide. It is full of fabulous photographs and is a beautiful book worthy of being left on the coffee table. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Oliver O.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good Overview for Advanced Wine Lovers
Review: Well written coverage of all essentials to kick start a foray into serious wine buying and selling. The parts on blind tasting are impressive but I cannot imagine ever nailing a premium label right down to the nearest village. Not farfetched but it must have required zillions of tastings. I can appreciate the book as some of the obscure names are already known. I would recommend to someone who already has basic wine appreciation. Switzerland was not covered, why?

Reviewer: Luke D. Zimmerman
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Informative
Review: I live in Italy and I am surrounded by Old World wines. I have taken my first level Sommelier class, but I think I learned more reading this book! Great read; very informative. Parr also gives additional information on other books to read as well. I have also read them and they are available on Amazon. Even if you enjoy wine but have no desire to become a Sommelier I would still suggest this book. Absolutely outstanding.

Reviewer: Ruth Marcianne
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Coffee Table Book
Review: Great coffee table book for a wine enthusiast in your life

Reviewer: Matt Foley
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Best Possible Introduction
Review: Written in an accessible and enjoyable manner, this book was the best possible introduction to the world of wine and the life and training of a sommelier. Highly recommend

Reviewer: MissionPk
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: I give it an 88
Review: Rajat Parr is … unique. I’ve had enough people I trust enjoy his Sandhi wines (haven’t tried yet myself) to believe he actually does know a bit about wine. He definitely has an ego, though. I think the main reason he chose to have a writing partner on this book was so someone else could be amazed at how awesome he is.The good stuff, the wine recommendations, is very good. The interesting stuff is interesting, as long as you can tolerate bowing down to Parr’s greatness every few pages. Makes you realize how good a writer Bourdain actually is. Writing about yourself in a way that doesn’t come across as self-obsessed is hard. I hope that Parr can figure it out for his next book, as I’m sure he does have a lot of knowledge to share.

Reviewer: Cristóbal Sánchez
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Este libro es un acto de gerenosidad, y conocimiento, el autor comparte con generosidad lo que ha aprendido, lo que conoce, huye de los tópicos tipicos, para acercarnos a lo práctico a lo real, ayundando al lector a acercárse al vino de alta gama sin vaciar la cuenta, honesto

Reviewer: bc
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Definitely one of the most entertaining books I’ve read on the topic of wine.Easy to ready, no excessive wine jargon. Some bias towards old world wine esp. Burgundy so if you are a Napa or Australian fan, you might want to look for another title.But for Burgundy fans, you won’t find many books more entertaining than this one.

Reviewer: Dimitri Safonov
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and even I do not agree on the opinion expressed about Priorat wines, this is a very expert book

Reviewer: Aloha
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A wow book, regarding presentation and stories that leave good messages for sommeliers

Reviewer: Edward G
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Excellent information for my wine studies!

Price effective as of Mar 19, 2025 11:59:59 UTC

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