Why does wine___?

Tired of wine books telling you what the 'experts' think you should know? This one starts with the questions you're actually asking.

Why does wine warn me about sulphites? Why is some wine not vegan or vegetarian? Does glass shape really matter? Why doesn't wine taste like grapes? And can you really lose an eye from a Champagne cork?

To write Why does wine ______?, Chris Sutherland collected more than 50,000 wine-related questions from Google, then analysed and grouped them to understand what people genuinely wanted to know. Rather than starting with a traditional syllabus of grapes, regions, and wine terminology, he let those questions shape the book.

But finding the questions was only the beginning.

Drawing on scientific research and the published work of winemakers, chemists, doctors, and other specialists, Chris investigates the facts behind familiar wine myths, challenges long-held assumptions, and explains what the evidence actually supports. Where the research is uncertain or experts disagree, he says so.

The result isn't another wine textbook or a collection of throwaway trivia. It's a book you can dip into whenever something about wine makes you curious, confused, or sceptical. From what happens inside your glass to the claims made about the wines you drink and buy, you'll find clear, accessible explanations without having to learn the wine industry's language first.

You don't need to be a wine expert to ask a good question. And you shouldn't need to become one to understand the answer.

With a foreword by Benjamin Hasko MS MW