The first edition of this book won the 1995 Glenfiddich Drink Book of the Year Award.

"This is an invaluable resource for serious wine drinkers who never quench their thirst for learning about varietals, appellations, wine history, and vineyards."--Business Week
"The greatest wine book ever published.... A worthy purchase even for those who already own its predecessor."--Michael Franz, The Washington Post
"An encyclopedic reference.... If it's not here, it has nothing to do with wine."--Wine and Spirits
"A wine lover's best friend."--La Cucina Italiana
"The preeminent basic resource for wine lovers.... It is hard to believe that editor Jancis Robinson could improve upon a work whose first edition was so universally lauded, but indeed she has."--Wine Enthusiast
Reviews of the first edition:
"A required reference for anyone who is serious about wine."--Frank J. Prial, The New York Times
"Jancis Robinson has become the Julia Child of wine."--Newsday
"One of the definitive reference books on the subject."--Anthony Dias Blue
"Easily the most complete compendium of wine knowledge assembled in modern times.... Essential to even the smallest library of wine books."--The New York Times
"This may be the most important book on wine to appear in the past 20 years....The very existence of this book stands as evidence of the significance of wine in our culture.... This volume will enhance the usefulness of every other wine book by providing authoritative explanations of the nuts and bolts that others treat only in passing."--The Washington Post