Beginning with a round-up of the year, Andrew Jefford reveals the best places to buy wine in London, from wine merchants, through supermarkets and high street chains to mail order specialists and warehouses. With suggestions of recommended bottles, details of opening times, discounts, tastings and storage facilities, the mystery of wine is being removed. An exploration of the capital's wine bars makes up the next section of the guide, concentrating only on those places which stand out for quality of choice, amiability of surroundings and excellence of food. Information is given in order to make the reader's visit a pleasant one with wine recommendations, opening hours, number of wines available by the glass and half bottle, numbers of wines on the list and access by public transport. Finally, the author unveils the secrets of how to enjoy wine. With information on tasting, drinking, storing and even studying wine, he then goes on to look at the wines of the world: from such unknowns as Algeria and Slovakia, to the classics like France and Germany and newcomers like Chile and Australia.
The book also discusses taste and style, the best vintage, whether a bottle can be stored or drunk straight away, what to avoid and what is recommended.
