Review of Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France

shravsi · Post by **shravsi** » 03 Jul 2021, 06:05

[Following is a volunteer review of "Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France" by Michael C. Higgins, PhD.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Have you ever dreamt of going on a wine tour? Does your inner wine connoisseur dream of immersing in the art of winemaking? Or are you just curious about the fuss over wine? A wine tour will put your mind at ease. But is going on a memorable wine tour that simple? There are so many wine regions around the world to choose from. How can you possibly pick a sole place for that ultimate wine experience? My answer is simple: Bordeaux. There is a reason why it’s called the world’s wine capital.

There are 60 appellations with over 7000 wineries within this single city. And not to forget numerous Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc. Where do you start? How do you even pick and choose? Don’t worry. Michael C. Higgins has got your back. With his book Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France, he acts as your handy tour guide and decodes Bordeaux for you. Let him take you through the magnificent chateaus’, serene vineyards, Bordeaux’s art and architecture, mouth-watering food, and of course, delectable wines.

The book starts with the history and geography Of Bordeaux. From the Romans who started planting vineyards to the British who ruled Bordeaux for over 300 years. Did you know why Napolean III started the official classification of wines? How did Eleanor of Aquitaine play a massive role in wine production? You will learn the differences between the right bank and the left bank. You will also learn the natural and human reasons that turned this area into the cradle of the highest qualities of wine. After you understand basics like terroir, the journey starts. Michael takes you through various regions and their appellations in order. For example, if he picks Bordeaux city center, he lays out the famous landmarks, things you can do, eateries (from Michelin star restaurants to local hangouts). And the distinct wines of that particular terroir and the chateaus’ in which you can experience them. Not to mention where you can stay and where you can buy the best wines. Then he moves to the next appellation like Medoc and so on. By the end of the book, you will cover everything related to Bordeaux and also visit a cooperage. This book is laid out in an orderly fashion with maps and travel instructions such as timings, directions, email addresses, transport, etc. Overall, this is a perfect travel guide with a personal touch.

What I liked about this book is this guide is created keeping tourists in mind. Only chateaus’ that are open to the public and are inclined to provide the best guest experience are curated here. This book helps you to learn about the French schedule; you don’t want to visit a restaurant with hunger pangs to only see a closed board, do you? Michael has created this book after visiting this place numerous times. One more thing I want to mention is the photos in this book. They are so mesmerizing! I wish I had this book in physical form so that I could spend all day turning the glossy pages looking at Michael’s wonderful photos. Every place he mentions has some personal story attached to it, and it brings out the life in them.

There is not much downside to this book. I found only four inconsequential typos. So, I will say this book is well-edited. With no profanity and adult content, this book is suitable for all ages. It was a little bit tedious to flip through the e-book because of the fixed layout format. But the full-page hi-resolution photos were worth the trouble. Considering all these reasons, I will rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

I will recommend this book to travel and wine enthusiasts as a perfect tour and wine guide. Even if you are not planning a trip, use this book to get a glimpse into the art of wine. I experienced Bordeaux closely through this book and learned a lot about wine. I now understand the importance of terroir. Let’s travel through books like these until the world is a safer place again.

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Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France
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Sou Hi · Post by **Sou Hi** » 15 Jul 2021, 01:58

Thanks for your interesting review. It seems this book will appeal to those who love wine. A tour through the capital of wine sure sounds fascinating, especially when trips are impossible during the current pandemic.

shravsi · Post by **shravsi** » 16 Jul 2021, 01:15

Sou Hi wrote: ↑15 Jul 2021, 01:58 Thanks for your interesting review. It seems this book will appeal to those who love wine. A tour through the capital of wine sure sounds fascinating, especially when trips are impossible during the current pandemic.

Yeah! Travel books are so helpful during pandemics. Especially books such as this with high-quality photos. Thank you for checking out my review.