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The
Wine Lover's Guide to Auctions: The Art & Science of Buying and Selling Wines
Ursula Hermacinski. Square
One, $17.95 paper (256p) ISBN 978-0-757-00275-5
A foreword by wine guru Michael
Broadbent intimates that this book is a serious authority on its subject-and it is. Hermacinski, who's been a wine auctioneer
for more than 20 years (most of them at Christie's), presents a guide to the wine auction experience that even the most studied
oenophile can learn from. The first 48 pages include an entertaining history of wine, auctions and, of course, wine auctions.
There's also a solid overview of wine basics, covering grape varieties, regions, bottle shapes and sizes, storage, serving,
glasses and food pairing, because understanding wine fundamentals, the author explains, is "an integral key to your success
at wine auctions." Though the topic is narrow, anyone with a strong interest in wine might find it worth exploring, because
auctions allow buyers to "acquire wines that are not available elsewhere because they are very old or very rare."
This book takes readers through auctions' pros and cons, terminology a nd process. Hermacinski wraps up with information on
wine collections and furthering one's wine education. Throughout are tidbits of wine-related trivia and an engaging, unpretentious
writing style that makes the potentially intimidating world of wine auctions accessible. (July)
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