Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine 2017: 40th Anniversary

I buy these every couple years because they are so reliable and so useful. I am a retired wine salesman/manager and although I can confidently navigate most restaurant wine lists and liquor stores, this is indispensable. It may seem daunting for a novice because of all the symbols and designations, but it is packed with very important information. Hugh Johnson has long been considered one of the top wine authorities of the world and is, I believe, the top wine writer. He has written dozens of wine books. If you want a wine book, buy one of his. These yearly guides can fit a suit pocket or purse and are extremely useful. They cover all the major wine regions as well as rather obscure ones (e.g., Romania) and they give quality ratings (star system), vintage info, and much, much more. Very well organized, well written (always with Hugh Johnson) and absolutely dependable. If you need a handy reference or want to learn more about wine, buy it.

No wonder this is called the Bible of wine. Despite things now available on line, and you can take a cell picture of your bottle to get some people's rating of it, this book still covers so many interesting things - that it is always good to have on your table or with you. No other person than Hugh Johnson covers so many wines in such a condensed but still very readable way. You get ratings of most known wines of any renown, and suggestions which wine to pair with what food. It may have grown in size, but still fits into your jacket pocket - and good to bring along to impress your friends.

Hough Johnson's Pocket Wine Book has always been the best book about the world of wine. This years edition is, by far, the best yet. The description of many of the wines are fuller with much more info than in past years. If you enjoy wine, like me, you have seen and bought this book in the past. The 2017 edition is a must have for any wine lover-it is that good.

This is one is better than 15 and 16 versions. I get them every year. For the Twitter era, a perfect book. Concise, informative, and thorough are most accurate descriptions of a fine and handy book for wine lovers. I purchased a Kindle version one year, but hard the hard copy easier to use because the reference boxes and maps in the book are easier to see in print form.

Lots of information in this little book. The print is so small I have to read it with a magnifying glass and I have 20 20 vision. That is why I took off one star.

Been buying these since the author began writing them. If you own only book to assist you in making wine purchasing decisions, this is it. It's getting a little big for your pocket or purse, but the amount of knowledge and level of detail is impressive. An indispensable resource.

I have purchased and used as my favorite reference this wine guide since it was first published in 1977. It has grown exponentially over the years, from a slim 144 pages to a robust 336. I don't leave home without it!

I've been buying these guides for years. Each one, especially this year, improves on the ones before. It's thicker than ever, no longer exactly a pocket wine book, but with so much useful information -- beginning with the inside cover vintage chart.

Finding fault with this long established book would be like questioning Captain Sullenberger's flying skills. However, that is not a real dilemma, because the book is a classic for good reasons. It's actually very helpful to have a Kindle version accessible for reference whenever needed (and less obvious than consulting a paper copy in a restaurant!). However, for browsing at home or on holiday, the paper version still appeals. So I guess Hugh Johnson will get paid twice by many customers ... good for him! As always, while the information is as comprehensive as the small format allows, it's Johnson's uniquely streamlined & charming turn of phrase that still comes up trumps, even with the many abbreviations employed. A very unusual book, in that it's equally valuable reading for reference and for pleasure. A bit like a wine version of what many of us did browsing the English dictionary in childhood. One reference leads to another and another and another ...

I buy this book every year, each year is an update of the previous year, but that's how it works. There is a review of the most recent vintage in each area. There is general info on whether to keep or drink certain vintages from each area. Then most importantly there are thousands of individual wines, the best years of each wine and a rating overall of the wine/producer. Read the section at the beginning on 'how to use this book' and you will get the best from it. This is NOT a text book telling you all the usual info about countries and all that general info like what a wine tastes like or where the areas are geographically. There are many books out there that do that. This is more of a mini reference/buyers guide. I find it invaluable and buy every year.

Splendid as ever, particularly if you spend a lot of time in France, which has the biggest section in the book, and if Bordeaux is your favourite tipple - the book helps you get the best quality/price ratio for this region. Also particularly helpful for some of the emerging quality wines from the south of France. I find the other countries less helpful as I rarely come across those listed in the shops in the UK or France.

Just what I needed to look up the wines I have purchased and learn more about wines I would like to purchase!The only thing I have had to get used to is how France has its own chapter/section but then Bordeaux is in a desperate chapter/section. Last time I checked Bordeaux was in France!!

A must have wine guide for every year.It always keeps me up to date with the latest trends and information about world wines.A very readable and accessible reference for anyone interested in wine.Hugh Johnson is a well respected authority on all things wine related.