The
Ultimate Wine Textbook
Windows on the World: Complete Wine Course
2006 Special 20th Anniversary Edition
By Kevin Zraly
(Sterling, $25)
Reviewed
by James Riswick
 |
Windows
on the World was the restaurant that inhabited the 106th and 107th
floors of the World Trade Center’s north tower. Opened in
1976, it was one of the world’s best-known restaurants and
ranked No. 1 in dollar volume in the United States. It also generated
more wine sales than any other restaurant in the world, partly
thanks to cellar master Kevin Zraly, who also created a wine school
at the popular establishment. On September 11, 2001, Zraly lost
72 of his friends and coworkers; not to mention the restaurant
and school he called home for 25 years. To honor their legacy
he has continued the Windows on the World wine school and this
annually updated book (now in its 20th edition) that’s filled
with valuable facts, insights and commentary. While it’s
a great coffee table book, it’s written and presented very
much like a college textbook; each chapter or class breaks down
different aspects of wine. Each sub-topic is introduced with a
question, such as “Why is Burgundy so difficult to understand?”
which makes skimming through it very easy. The neat facts that
run down the side of each page present the most fascinating tid-bits
of information. Such nuggets include: the California
wine industry is a bigger money maker than Hollywood; until about
1850, all Champagne
was sweet; and King Tut preferred red wine to white. There’s
also a rumor that Marilyn Monroe took a bath in 350 bottles of
Champagne—perhaps
diamonds weren’t really her best friends. Throw in a helpful
glossary, Zraly’s “Best of the Best” list and
a very reasonable price, and all together “Windows on the
World: Complete Wine Course” is an interesting and tremendously
useful guide for novices and experts alike.
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