Opening a Bottle: Italy (Signed Copy, U.S. Only)

Description

About the Book

From acclaimed wine journalist and photographer Kevin Day comes a heartfelt ode to Italian wine. Opening a Bottle: Italy chronicles 24 groundbreaking wineries that are redefining our understanding of Italian terroir and craft. From Sicily’s ash-spewing Mount Etna to the steep, improbable terraces of Valtellina high in the Alps of Lombardy, this visually rich journey takes readers deeper into the world’s most complex and layered wine nation.

With his natural storytelling ability and evocative photography, Day reveals how the distinctiveness of Italian wine is not in the prestige of a label, but in the people behind it. As climate change puts pressure on winemakers, they are increasingly taking cues from their ancestors, whether that means adopting polyculture, supporting biodiversity in and around the vineyards, or embracing the physical toil required by the best vineyard sites. In the process, they are redefining fine wine as we know it.

As a bonus, the book includes a selection of 100 Wines to Admire from across Italy — wines that every reader should taste at least once (or buy by the case). Offering a dual perspective for “beginners” and “wine obsessives,” this playful and informative guide reintroduces the most essential aspect of all great Italian wines: joy.

Praise for Opening a Bottle: Italy and the work of Kevin Day

“Elegant, modest, heartfelt and insightful, Kevin Day’s Opening a Bottle: Italy takes us to what matters about wine: its stories, its creators, its power to illuminate.”

–Andrew Jefford, Author/Columnist for Decanter and The World of Fine Wine

“At once serious yet whimsical, informative but a delight to relish, Day’s unique perspective (and stunning photography) gives us access to producers both iconic and emerging that manage to capture new narratives around regions, people and traditions. These stories are born out of curiosity, honesty and a genuine appreciation for the connection wine gives us. His top 100 wine recommendations are steeped in purpose not points. It’s refreshing. In short, Day reminds us why wine matters.”

–Ashley Hausman, Master of Wine and founder of SoWhatWine.com

“One of the three most important writers in the world on the subject of Mount Etna.”

–Antonio Benanti, Winemaker at Viticoltori Benanti on Mount Etna

“Opening a Bottle: Italy works from a deceptively simple promise. ‘Life is too short to drink alcohol without a soul.’ In a world awash with wine, how do we navigate to bottles with soul? On page after page, author Kevin Day shows us. In prose that is at once effortlessly elegant and sneakily informative, Day has captured the stories that unlock Italian wine’s countless facets. Consider this your concise, companionable key. Beginners and wine obsessives alike will find 100 bottles to discover and rejoice in. A hundred wines over the next 365 days works out to a reasonable ambition. I can’t wait to try it myself, with these stories and Day’s loosely worn, engaging expertise at hand.”

–Valerie Kathawala, Editor at TRINK Magazine

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