The Dirty Guide to Wine

At the heart of this practical guide is Alice Feiring's view that the world's best wines should be considered not by region, but by the underlying rock and soil type from which their grapes grow. If the listener's last earth science course was a while ago, it's no problem, as Feiring makes earnest attempts to keep the geology details accessible. Narrator Callie Beaulieu employs a muted voice to provide an unadorned reading and consistent pacing. Beaulieu's French pronunciation is spot-on. Sadly, however, this practical primer is quite dry, and the narrator's lack of enthusiasm does not enliven it. For those who might be amused by such qualities, flashes of snobbishness appear such as the clich� of the "idiot sommelier.'' Patience will be as essential as earbuds for oenophiles with a distinct interest. W.A.G. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine