Another review copy, this time Randall Grahm's Been Doon So Long (a Randall Grahm Vinthology), which arrived last week. A hardback published by University of California Press £24.95/ $34.95 running to 318 pages. I have just started reading this – have enjoyed the introduction and will report in more detail soon. Confident that this will be an interesting and provocative read. Look beyond the puns and zaniness and like the King's jester or fool of old Randall is an acute critic of the wine scene.
This is another forceful reminder of the dearth of significant and exciting wine titles being published by UK companies at the moment. There was a time when UK publishers led the Anglophone world with innovative wine books. Sadly no longer as most now prefer to restrict to a handful of well established names and largely new editions of well regarded classics.
If you want something new you have to look to the US and often to University of California Press. In addition to Mr Grahm's new opus, recent titles have included Paul Strang's completely revised work on South-West France - the wines and winemakers, Nicolas Belfrage's Finest Wines of Tuscany and Central Italy and Michael Edwards' The Finest Wines of Champagne.
UK wise there is one ray of light – a new book on Burgundy by J'espère Maurice (trans Jasper Morris) is due to be published by Berry Bros & Rudd next autumn. Should be well worth the wait.
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