“A terrific introduction to one of the greatest wine writers of our times. . . . Complexity [that’s] easy to savor.”
“Should be on the shelf of any wine lover.”
“Some of Asher’s best writing is reprinted in A Carafe of Red and A Vineyard in My Glass (both University of California Press).”
"While many wine writers take a more self-righteous approach to issues of the grape, Asher's easygoing style reminds us of the fundamental purposes and pleasures of wine."
“A Vineyard in My Glass by Gerald Asher is a collection of 27 essays about wine regions - focusing mainly on Europe but also big on North America - written by one of the best senior wordsmiths practicing in wine.”
“Asher’s compilation of insightful essays is as stimulating as fine wine.”
“Besides the chronicling and profiling, Asher's work is also stuffed full of an urbane empathy that allows him to spin an honest but always sympathetic portrait of wines or a region, and always doing so with a straight face and not too much fuss. Underneath what are fairly straightforward profiles of regions, the people that populate them and the wines produced there, one finds the prose of a romantic who's love of authenticity and preciseness and, most importantly, pleasure are allowed to seep out, politely and burnished smooth.”
“Even the oldest stories have a timeless appeal thanks to the pellucid prose of Mr. Asher, whose metaphors never strain and whose narrative flows like a glass of his beloved Corton. Although he ranges around the world, Mr. Asher is particularly evocative when the subject is France. It's the perfect gift for the connoisseur.”
“Gerald Asher, the longtime wine editor of beloved Gourmet Magazine (RIP), offers this inspiring collection of essays for some very inviting (or imbibing) fall reading. . . . By the end, you’ll feel like you not only know a bit more about wine but that you practically know firsthand the places and people that make great wine the world’s most romantic, intoxicating drink.”
“I cut my teeth as a wine lover reading Gerald Asher's romantic but solidly grounded reports on wine regions in Gourmet, at a time when that magazine was intended for a very sophisticated audience. No one in the field has ever provided more sound information in more elegantly written sentences. His essays truly made you sense the work and traditions that go into making a fine wine. From its takes on whites of the Southern Rhone to a whole chapter on Soave, this book convinces the reader that snobbery is the truest enemy of wine, and like the best, most erudite of teachers, Asher knows how to entertain and enlighten in a way that sends one straight to the vineyards.”
“Not only will this fascinating read deepen your appreciation of your favorite wine, but it will also lead you to discover other wine regions.”
“There is timelessness in his writing. . . . His writing [is] a literary pleasure.”
“These correspondences are filled with wit and wisdom, an open heart and mind.”
“When Gerald Asher talks, I listen—especially when he talks about the very essence of my professional being. There is no writer I revere more than Mr. Asher. He is keenly analytical. He is honest and incisive in his appraisals. And, he is so much more interesting to read than I am that I just held on for dear life as I searched for his article under the title above.”
"A master of wine writing, Asher entertains readers with a deliciously told story enriched by his passion for good food and wine."
“Gerald Asher brought to Gourmet the magazine's most literate, scholarly, and civilized column. For a balanced view, a true feel for wine's values, he has no peer. And he is always a joy to read.”—Hugh Johnson, author of A Life Uncorked and The World Atlas of Wine
"Gerald Asher is amongst the most erudite men I know. With an exceptional palate, he appreciates wines of great elegance, subtlety, and finesse, and his writings capture the essence of many fine wines."—Christian Moueix, Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix
“Wine can occasionally be silken textured, as can its prose, especially in Gerald Asher's hands. He is the Maestro, the Doyen, and my inspiration since the 1970s.”—John Livingstone-Learmonth, author of The Wines of the Northern Rhône
"Gerald Asher's eye for telling detail makes for addictively readable prose"—Terry Theise, author of Reading between the Wines
“When it comes to style as well as substance, no one writing about wine in the English language comes close to Gerald Asher. These articles from Gourmet magazine are as fresh and informative as they were when initially published. A Vineyard in My Glass deserves a place on every wine lover’s bookshelf.”—Steve Heimoff, author of A Wine Journey Along the Russian River
In a wine world that is obsessed with points and descriptors, Gerald Asher’s writing is utterly refreshing. No matter his topic, he reminds us that the most interesting things about wine are the place it comes from and the people who make it.—Carole Meredith, Professor Emerita of Enology, UC Davis
