VINS DU SOLEIL
Wine Tours in the South of France
By Florence Hernandez

Reviewed by Nancy Huang

Wine journalist Florence Hernandez’s new book, Wine Tours in the South of France—or Vins du Soleil for the French version—explores a region of France where winemaking is not about big-name labels or fancy reputations, but about a way of life. The 160-page book journeys through many wineries in various regions of southern France, including the well-known Rhône Valley and the area around Provence and Corsica. Each stop in the book’s journey not only provides details about the individual region’s wines, but also details the intimate nuances of its winemaking process. Included in each section is also a regional itinerary, which describes suggested vineyards and winemakers to visit.

Although well-researched and well-illustrated, this book is designed more for wine connoisseurs than the average wine drinker. The numerous French terms may slow some readers unfamiliar to the language or the winemaking process, and the in-depth descriptions of the regions will disappoint anyone looking for quick wine information or travel tips. However, any reader willing to sit and learn about southern France will find Wine Tours both informative and charming. The back of the book also lists addresses and phone numbers to tourist information, hotels, restaurants and vineyards for anyone looking to travel to the region. Overall, this book is designed for French oenophiles, but its colorful pictures and extravagant descriptions make it worthy of anyone’s coffee table. For more information, visit www.rizzoliusa.com.