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| The Oxford Companion to Wine | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Oxford Companion to Wine |
| Author | Jancis Robinson (editor) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Wine |
| Genre | Reference book |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| First published | 1994 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | varies by edition |
The Oxford Companion to Wine The Oxford Companion to Wine is a comprehensive reference work on wine produced by Oxford University Press and edited by Jancis Robinson. It serves as an authoritative resource linking biographies of figures such as Louis Pasteur, Robert Mondavi, and Anthony H. Wilson with entries on regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Napa Valley. The Companion interrelates topics from producers such as Château Margaux and Antinori to institutions like the Institute of Masters of Wine and events like the Judgement of Paris.
The Companion offers alphabetically arranged entries covering people including Thomas Jefferson, Michel Rolland, and Rachel Carson, places such as Chianti, Ribera del Duero, and Marlborough, New Zealand, and organizations including Parker, Robert M., Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), and Wine and Spirit Education Trust. It connects historical episodes like the Phylloxera crisis and the Great French Wine Blight with modern developments involving organic viticulture, sustainability initiatives, and market actors such as Vivino and Berry Bros. & Rudd. Entries also profile works like Oxford English Dictionary-level lexicons and awards such as the Decanter World Wine Awards.
First published in 1994, subsequent editions updated entries reflecting changes in regions like Rioja, Mosel, and Tuscany and figures including Miguel Torres and Paul Draper. Major revisions coincide with shifts in the wine world—such as the globalization exemplified by Australia's wine boom and the rise of New World producers in Argentina, Chile, and South Africa. Editions document regulatory changes involving bodies like the European Union and national appellation systems such as Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa). Later printings and digital incarnations adapted to platforms similar to those used by Oxford University Press for other reference titles.
Edited by Jancis Robinson, the Companion assembled contributions from experts including Hugh Johnson, Oz Clarke, Jane Anson, Stephen Brook, and region-specific specialists representing Champagne, Rhône Valley, and Loire Valley. The editorial policy emphasized authoritative sourcing akin to standards at Oxford University Press and peer networks such as the Institute of Masters of Wine and the Court of Master Sommeliers. Contributors range from academics affiliated with universities like University of California, Davis and Bordeaux Sciences Agro to practitioners at estates like Château d'Yquem and Penfolds.
Organized alphabetically, the Companion contains entries on grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and lesser-known cultivars like Assyrtiko and Xinomavro, alongside profiles of vintages, techniques, and terroir exemplified by terroir concepts in places like Chablis and Tuscany's Chianti Classico. It covers technical subjects referencing researchers like Louis Pasteur and institutions such as Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), and catalogs trade entities including Maison M. Chapoutier, Concha y Toro, and auction houses like Sotheby's. The Companion integrates maps, bibliographies, and cross-references to authorities like Michael Broadbent and journals such as Decanter.
Critics and professionals praised editions for scholarship comparable to other Oxford Companions and for influencing educational programs at Wine & Spirit Education Trust and tasting curriculum at Court of Master Sommeliers. Reviews in outlets like The Times and The Guardian and endorsements from figures such as Robert Parker and Pierre Galet helped cement its role as a standard reference. It has shaped consumer knowledge alongside tasting phenomena like the 2010s natural wine movement and commercial trends in markets including China and United States.
The Companion and its editor received recognition from institutions such as James Beard Foundation and industry awards conferred by Decanter and International Wine Challenge. Jancis Robinson's editorial work drew honors paralleling lifetime achievement awards given to peers like Hugh Johnson and Michael Broadbent.
Debates around the Companion reflect wider disputes in wine criticism—readers and commentators including Tim Atkin and Oz Clarke questioned entries on practices like organic wine certification and appellation rules administered by bodies such as Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB). Some critics argued the Companion emphasized Anglo-centric perspectives tied to markets in United Kingdom and United States and relied on established authorities like Robert Parker at the expense of emerging voices from regions such as Georgia and Lebanon. Editorial decisions sparked discussions similar to controversies involving wine critics and publications like Wine Spectator.
Category:Wine books