About Michael

After reading for the Bar, Michael Edwards joined Laytons, the independent London wine merchants, as a wine trainee in 1968. Living in Provence and Burgundy in the early 1970s, he represented several wines domaines that are now household names in Britain and the USA including Domaine Laroche and Zind-Humbrecht. In a change of career in the 1980s Michael became a restaurant critic, rising to be chief inspector of the Egon Ronay Guide. For the last 18 years, he has been a freelance wine and food writer and journalist, specialising in Champagne, Burgundy and gastronomy.

ABOUT HIS WORKS

Michael is the author of three books on Champagne. His recently published 'The Finest Wines of Champagne' (Aurum/Univ. of California Press) has been shortlisted for this year's André Simon prize and described by Howard Goldberg at the New York Times as 'the unrivaled wine book of 2009... a fountain of insights'. Other titles include Vermouth (with Gérard Noël, a monograph on Chablis and 'The Red Wine Companion'. Michael is a regular contributor to The World of Fine Wine on Champagne & Burgundy and a member of that magazine's tasting panel. Michael Edwards is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers and the Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Vins

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02/09/2009

The Finest Wines of Champagne

Michael's book is now out of press!

"THE FINEST WINES OF CHAMPAGNE"
A Guide to the Best Cuvées, Houses and Growers

 

Finest Wines of C

 

Champagne!


Champagne has been the drink of celebration  for so long that many consumers and wine-trade professionals  don't really regard it in the same light  as they would a great Bordeaux or Burgundy. Eyes wide shut, for the image of Champagne is changing subtly as it comes to be recognized as a fine wine in its own right. Drawing on long experience of a classic but rapidly changing region, I have taken what I hope is a radically different approach  in this terroir- based guide to the world's best sparkling wines. Ninety in-depth profiles of the best small growers as well as the greatest houses are organized geographically. The text is augmented by extraordinary photos, "making the reader feel more connected to the growers and the region." (Louisa Hargrave)
  

The choice of producers is simply composed of those I think are most worth writing about. Recent trends in viticulture and winemaking, especially the fashion for extra brut, bone-dry cuvées, are discussed. Also explored are gastronomy of the area, a dozen of the best restaurants, bistros and brasseries. Pairing Champagne with food, a survey of vintages of the last 20 years, and a personal list of  'The Finest 100' complete this guide to the most glamorous, yet most enigmatic of French wines.

Michael Edwards

 

THE FINEST WINES OF CHAMPAGNE
A Guide to the Best Cuvées, Houses and Growers

by MICHAEL EDWARDS

Foreword by Hugh Johnson

Photography by Jon Wyand

Fine Wine Editions

320 pp, published September 2009
Aurum Press, London (£20) – University of California Press, Berkeley ($34)

14:59 Écrit par Michael F. Edwards dans Champagne | Lien permanent | Commentaires (3) | Envoyer cette note |  Facebook |

Commentaires

Bravo I was fortunate enough to read the book in primeur. What a lovely review of what's worthy of note in this famous region where one may so easily get disappointed... (as a Frenchman, I have to confess this)
Congratulations, Michael, so many books have been already written on Champagne, but this one is really useful. Cheers!

Écrit par : Hervé LALAU | 02/09/2009

Try to find it in France That's a good and great News.

I'll try find it in France,
or ask to a champagne enthusiast friend to collect it in London for me.

Best sparkling wishes,

Francis

Écrit par : Francis B. | 25/10/2009

I received this book as a Christmas gift from my dear friend, a fellow Californian champagne enthusiast. It is my dream one day to have a small champagne tasting bar in the town of Sonoma where I am a native. I will be sure to highlight your works. Currently I am residing in Amsterdam and searching for a connection to learn/internship in the Champagne region. This book has been so inspiring and educational, I thank you. Proost!

Jayme

Écrit par : Jayme | 04/03/2011

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