Want to really learn about wine? As I hinted recently, I’m working on a new project that it’s time to announce. The working (and probably final) title is The Wine For Newbies Wine Tasting Course. It will be an ebook, downloadable and viewable with any PDF reader.
Another “learn about wine” book? Yes–but with a difference.
Almost all of the wine books out there spend a ton of time teaching you about wine: the grapes, the regions, the labels, and so on. But almost none of them do the one thing that you really need to do: get some wine, drink it, and figure out what you like about it! The books are almost always “talking the talk,” but they don’t get you to “walk the walk.” Back in the 1970s or 1980s, a guy by the name of James Fixx wrote a book called Running. It was all about running–why you should do it, what types of shoes you should have, and so on. It was a brilliant book, and it inspired me to take up running–something I did for several years (until fear of knee replacement surgery in my future struck). One of the things Fixx’s book did well was it got you out there and actually running. There was a step-by-step (no pun intended) explanation of how to build up your stamina and get the most out of the workouts. Little wonder that Running was a smash hit. It did something other books weren’t doing. And that’s what I want to accomplish with my book.
Don’t get me wrong–I love Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course. I still refer to it at least once a month. Same goes for Karen MacNeil’s Wine Bible, and all of the various books I have on my shelves. They are all full of excellent information, but none of them really walk you through getting and tasting the wines. It’s almost like Running without the how-to part. I can read all about exercise that I want, but it won’t do me a bit of good if I don’t get out and exercise. The same principle applies with wine. You can read all the wine books you want, but if you don’t pull the cork or take off the screw cap and actually drink the wine, the books won’t do you much good.
So here’s what you need to know: I’m working on the book. Drafting, editing, refining, and so on. It’s going to be ready fairly soon (but not soon enough). I don’t know when it will actually be ready for release, but it won’t be too terribly long. I’ve got a lot of loyal readers (and podcast listeners), and I want to recognize that loyalty. So what I’m going to do is give them a price break. I also want to give those readers and listeners the chance to get their hands (or computer mice?) on the ebook before anyone else.
If that sounds good to you, this is what you need to do. If you’re already on that FeedBlitz mailing for this site, you don’t need to do anything. If you’re not already on the mailing list, you need to plug your email address in and subscribe. Don’t worry–the only emails you will ever get (except for the “please confirm” email) will come from me. No one else.
If you’re subscribing via the RSS feed, you’ll need to subscribe to the email list. The RSS subscribers won’t get the same price break or advance access–it’s not that I don’t appreciate you all, but I can’t get info to you folks exclusively as easily as I can via email.
I have to say, I’m really psyched about this. Almost enough to skip work for a few days and finish up the book. Unfortunately, there would be hell to pay if I did that. Still, I’m going to plow into finishing it up this weekend and see how much progress I make.
Stay tuned!
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