I thought this book was very educational and kept me interested enough that I didn't feel like I was reading a textbook. I truly felt like after reading this book, I could hold a conversation about wines and know enough to not feel ridiculous. The book covers every notable region of the world, except maybe Arkansas and Canada.

My only complaint is there should be less treatment of expensive French wines that Joe Sikspak cannot find nor likely afford. He is likely going to be hitting the Beringer and Mondavi a lot harder than the Chateau Leoville Las Cases.

Book did an okay job of describing wines and talked about a few different varietals from a few different regions but I was left feeling as though this book was much less than complete.

This is a bit watered down as far as information. While Zraly has a great writing style, posing questions and then answering them. The pictures and diagrams are nice, but they seem to be included in an effort to take up more room so Zraly doesn't have to insert as much text, not to mention the large text itself (great for vision impaired I guess). While this would be a good beginner book, I feel there are more interesting beginners texts out there as well as some advanced texts that even a beginner may enjoy such as the Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia.

Pros: great value, great writing style, easy to understand
Cons: generic maps, limited information, lacks polish

There is no better 'First' wine book to offer someone interested in learning about the world of wine than this offering. It is so well written, you can go chapter by chapter, or read the entire book cove to cover. Each time you read it, you pick up more. The wine countries of France and Italy are quite difficult to understand, this book is an excellent tool to begin that process. I paged through my first copy of this book nearly 8 years ago, and it started my passion for wine that continues today! If properly studied, I believe a dedicated student could pass the Court of Master Sommeliers Intro course with this book alone. Well done and Thank You, Kevin Zraly.

Before i bought this book, i didnt know a thing about wine. After completing it, i feel as if i am a sommelier. There are lots of pictures and helpful sidebar text to explain things in more detail. Very easy format and language that anyone can read and understand. It covers all types of wine from USA, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain mostly, however it does mention others briefly. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to learn about wine but doesn't know where to start. This will get the ball rolling for you very well.

I came across this book during my search for a guide book on wines that would be both informative and visually friendly. In his updated 2007 edition, Zraly continues to provide a great wealth of information to anyone looking to learn more about wines -- from history, geographic/cultural origin, techniques, pairings, to recommendations on specific labels/wineries. The combination of factual information and recommendations of his favorites makes for a more interesting and engaging "wine course". Futhermore, the colorful pictures and the binding of the hardback make this for a great coffee table book.
Echoing the comments of other reviewers, I would like to reiterate that this is a perfect guide for beginners and a great compilation to have as part of any sommelier's collection.

This book is an excellent source for information for any wine drinker. It explains the world of wine much better and gives a general overview of all the most important wine making regions.

This is an awesome book for anyone really wanting to know all about wine. Answers any question you may have about every aspect of wine and the winemaking process.

I purchased my first copy of "Windows on the World" 20 years ago as it was the perfect introduction to wine book of its time. Zraly's basic approach in easing the novice through the pleasure of wine has made it the book I have recommended most often. I've probably given a dozen copies away over the years to friends who have expressed an interest in learning more about wine. Readers will be introduced to a good overview of the great wine regions of the world, the wine making process, pairing, proper stemware and more. A must buy. (Joseph Broski - Dionysian Society International)

I purchased my first copy of "Windows on the World" 20 years ago as it was the perfect introduction to wine book of its time. Zraly's basic approach in easing the novice through the pleasure of wine has made it the book I have recommended most often. I've probably given a dozen copies away over the years to friends who have expressed an interest in learning more about wine. Readers will be introduced to a good overview of the great wine regions of the world, the wine making process, pairing, proper stemware and more. A must buy.

This is by far the best wine book available. It's laid out much like a textbook and breaks up "chapters" into different "courses". Such as California White Wine, Red Wine of the Loire Valley, etc. Kevin also provides sections on how to taste wine, wine and food pairing, and throughout he gives his suggestions for the best wines from each area.

If you're interested in learning about wine, I truly believe that you need this book. Kevin Zraly is a wine master, and winner of the Wine Literary Award. Very few people in the world know more about the subject than he does.

I'm a waiter. I have been for more years than I care to remember, to be honest. And, as a waiter, part of my job is to know a thing or two about wines. But of course, I don't know everything. I think the author of this book, Kevin Zraly, comes pretty close though, but his brilliance is not in showing you his knowledge. It's in doing so without talking down to you, or by dragging you through a long, academic book of endless facts and figures.
What Zraly does is write a clear, organized, knowledgeable, and often humorous look at wines, from Bordeaux to Zinfandel; from wine pouring methods to wine tasting methods; from Washington State to South Australia. All along it's an amazingly easy read. And while it is no doubt indispensable for those new to the wine game, it is vital for any of us who do know a lot about wine, but don't always remember all of it. What are the major white wine grapes from the Loire Valley? It's in there. What is the AOC, and how does it work? In there. What's the difference between a port and a sherry. All there.
This new updated version is miles better, and more picturesque than the old crappy 1988 edition I had been holding on to all this time. So glad I got this at Amazon. Even if I don't read it again, it's a great looking hard cover book at a great price!

I'm a waiter. I have been for more years than I care to remember, to be honest. And, as a waiter, part of my job is to know a thing or two about wines. But of course, I don't know everything. I think the author of this book, Kevin Zraly, comes pretty close though, but his brilliance is not in showing you his knowledge. It's in doing so without talking down to you, or by dragging you through a long, academic book of endless facts and figures.
What Zraly does is write a clear, organized, knowledgeable, and often humorous look at wines, from Bordeaux to Zinfandel; from wine pouring methods to wine tasting methods; from Washington State to South Australia. All along it's an amazingly easy read. And while it is no doubt indispensable for those new to the wine game, it is vital for any of us who do know a lot about wine, but don't always remember all of it. What are the major white wine grapes from the Loire Valley? It's in there. What is the AOC, and how does it work? In there. What's the difference between a port and a sherry. All there.
This new updated version is miles better, and more picturesque than the old crappy 1988 edition I had been holding on to all this time. So glad I got this at Amazon. Even if I don't read it again, it's a great looking hard cover book at a great price!

This book is excellent for the beginner wine lover. I have loved the background info and the layout of the text. It is a great book to have out on the coffee table too.

Perfect introduction for anyone interested in getting familiar with the wine world. It is part of my employee's training package.

This is an excellent book to learn the basics of wine and wine regions. It is very easy to read and is laid out in a nice format. This book was recommended to me by one of my wine merchants. I just finish a Wine Professional course and our book was over 800 pages. This book is a Reader's Digest version of the one I used in class.

Approach this book as you would a course to fully appreciate it. It contains lots of information so might be intimidating for lay people. Anything worth knowing is worth taking time with. If you appreciate wine or would like to develop your appreciation, this is the place to start. You won't be an expert after reading it, but you will be very well informed. This book does an excellent job of giving the reader good recommendations for further reading.

This is a good choice for those that want just one book to introduce them to wine, or for those that want a starting point for an intimate knowledge of wine.

I gave this as a holiday gift to a good friend who is a serious wine lover. I'm no wine expert myself -- just an ignorant enjoyer of the stuff -- but I scored big with this book. She says it is the best book on wine and food she's ever seen. She recently had a dinner party created around the wisdom in the book. Rather than deciding on the food, and then selecting wines, she picked wines she wanted to serve, and created her menu around them. Wonderful and surprising combinations. So, this has turned out to not just be a terrific gift for her, but delicious fun for all her friends!

Almost too detailed for a beginning wino, but we're learning a lot. Only thing we wish it had was a section telling you to try specific wines and taste them for specific reasons. I think that would help a beginner understand what they like and don't like a lot easier.

This book is wonderful, but then Mr. Zraly and his students over the years already know that. If you are serious about studying wine, and want a great introduction to the regions and grape varietals of the world - look no further, this is the book for you! Thank you, Mr. Zraly!

I need it for work and enjoyed it. Full of everything a begginer like me needs to know. Glad it's in my library. It's the first in this category and a wonderful start to my wine and dine section!

I've been teaching myself about wine for the past 2 years. I've used a plethora of websites to gain as much knowledge as possible. Not to mention taste A LOT of wine. :) I wish I had found this book a bit sooner. When I sat down with this book, I had no idea the amount it would teach me in even just the first 10 minutes! I am more than satisfied with this purchase and I HIGHLY recommend it to wine novices as well as seasoned tasters.

I have purchased the 2006 Windows on the World Complete Wine Course after it was recommended in the wine appreciation course I am currently taking. What an excellent resource to have! I have read it and use it as a reference so much that it has I am now giving it as a gift to my wine lover friends. The information is current, updated annually, with current research incorporated into the book. I find the book is user friendly, and the author is well renoun in the field. Highly recommend it for one's library.