Download or read book Wines of Britain and Ireland written by Stephen Skelton and published by Mitchell Beazley. This book was released on 2003-01-01 with total page 531 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over recent decades winemaking in Ireland and the United Kingdom has come a long way. No longer viewed as an eccentric hobby of the few, it has become a valuable industry producing wines of the highest quality. These wines are provoking renewed interest and optimism, and the vineyards, once seen as curiosities, are now considered seriously world class. Stephen Skelton -- an award-winning winegrower and winemaker, and a well-respected wine writer -- acknowledges these developments in this long-awaited book, which explores the winemaking of England, Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands. He provides a definitive viticultural history of Britain -- from its pre-Roman beginnings to the robust optimism it enjoys today. There are full descriptions of all the vine varieties grown, together with explanations of the viticultural techniques and the winemaking processes being developed to suit Britain's unique conditions. The book's core feature is a comprehensive, region by region guide to more than 250 vineyards, with full details of location, owner and growers, winemakers, grape varieties, wine sales and opening times. Book jacket.