Drawing on interviews with baijiu aficionados, distillers and key players in the alcoholic beverage industry, Sandhaus introduces the history and development of alcohol in China - the birthplace of grain-based alcohol. Distillation and production processes, the landscape of the industry today, and a page-by-page guide to the major varieties, distilleries and brands all feature in Baijiu- The Essential Guide to Chinese Spirits.

2020 Gourmand Award in Spirits Gold Medal winner in the Independent Book Publishers Awards China is one of the world's leading producers and consumers of liquor, with alcohol infusing all aspects of its culture, from religion and literature to business and warfare. Yet to the outside world, China's most famous spirit, baijiu, remains a mystery. This is about to change, as baijiu is now being served in cocktail bars beyond its borders. Drunk in China follows Derek Sandhaus's journey of discovery into the world's oldest drinking culture. He travels throughout the country and around the globe to meet with distillers, brewers, snake-oil salesmen, archaeologists, and ordinary drinkers. He examines the many ways in which alcohol has shaped Chinese society and its rituals. He visits production floors, karaoke parlors, hotpot joints, and speakeasies. Along the way he uncovers a tradition spanning more than nine thousand years and explores how recent economic and political developments have conspired to push Chinese alcohol beyond the nation's borders for the first time. As Chinese society becomes increasingly international, its drinking culture must also adapt to the times. Can the West also adapt and clink glasses with China? Read Drunk in China and find out.

Pirates, plagues, pistols and poisons; with adventure of all varieties, the third instalment of the popular 'Tales' series is a rollicking journey into colonial Hong Kong. A collection of historical odds and ends - stories, quotations, cartoons, postcards and drawings - recount in thrilling detail how a 'barren rock' seemingly destined to fail rose to become one of the richest trading outposts in Asia.

China is turning into one of the world's largest, most lucrative food and beverage markets. Especially wine is in demand and has become fashionable as a symbol of social status. This trend is very likely to continue as wine consumption is closely related to income and China's emerging middle class offers tremendous potential. The market's healthy value growth will further encourage newcomers from outside China. But how can a market entrance be successfully managed and what are the main challenges when bringing wine to China? This book is an insiders' guide to efficiently planning a market entry by taking a thorough look at the wine market of China. It surveys the typical behavior of the Chinese wine consumer and examines the relevant factors for a successful market entry. Distribution channels (off- and online), pricing models and marketing activities are scrutinized. Further, the reader gets insights into the challenges of this dynamic market, such as fierce domestic and foreign competition, policies and regulations as well as entry barriers. The thirst for wine prevails, and this book will leverage your momentum.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND A NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS' PICK “Thrilling . . . [told] with gonzo élan . . . When the sommelier and blogger Madeline Puckette writes that this book is the Kitchen Confidential of the wine world, she’s not wrong, though Bill Buford’s Heat is probably a shade closer.” —Jennifer Senior, The New York Times Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine—until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession, and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork.” With boundless curiosity, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism, Bosker takes the reader inside underground tasting groups, exclusive New York City restaurants, California mass-market wine factories, and even a neuroscientist’s fMRI machine as she attempts to answer the most nagging question of all: what’s the big deal about wine? What she learns will change the way you drink wine—and, perhaps, the way you live—forever. “Think: Eat, Pray, Love meets Somm.” —theSkimm “As informative as it is, well, intoxicating.” —Fortune

- The essential book on the world's wine, whatever your level of expertise - Oz Clarke makes wine accessible and enjoyable - Full of all the facts you need as well as the stories you will love, authoritative and enjoyable - Beautifully produced in a new flexibound volume that makes it easy to read There have never been so many delicious and original wines in the world, and to discover them, all you need is a glass in your hand and Oz Clarke - the ideal wine companion. With his inimitable sense of adventure and fun, Oz explains how his fascination with flavor led him to abandon a promising acting career and follow his heart from Chablis to 'the lost Himalayan valleys of Yunnan' in pursuit new taste experiences and wine thrills. He found them! Oz Clarke On Wine takes us on a fast-paced, witty romp around the grape varieties key to the world's major wine styles, then explores the vineyards and regions where a vast trove of wine treasure lies waiting for discovery. Oz's passion for sharing, his deep wine knowledge, and his ability to conjure up the wine world's most beautiful landscapes, make this book the most unputdownable wine read this century. Includes: How Oz fell in love with wine: from his first dramatic encounter on a river-bank (aged three), to his post-performance tasting tales (after 'governing Argentina' as General Perón in the hit show Evita Oz explains how global warming affects what we drink today, and the new styles we can expect 'tomorrow' Organic and Biodynamic wines, Oz's favorite fizz The world's best-tasting wines, from Aconcagua to Okanagan, from Patagonia to east Yorkshire..., and wines to enjoy, from budget to blue chip... For sipping and savoring now. Or to age and enjoy in 10, 20, 30-years' time...

"Craft Spirit World" presents over 100 of the finest drinks produced by distillers around the world—from Japanese Whiskey and Californian Tequila to English Brandy and Australian Gin. Distillation is as close as mankind has come to alchemy: turning everything from the humble potato to run-of-the-mill corn into glorious liquor. But there's nothing like industrialisation to suck the soul out of a process % and, with their vast column stills and bulk-buy mentality, that is exactly what the spirit-industry behemoths have managed to do. Cue the micro-distiller—a new breed of artisan producer reigniting our love of spirits and making drinks of quality rather than quantity. Artisan spirits can not only taste better, but each microdistiller has a tale to tell about the ingredients or the dream that led them to lovingly coax each drop of spirit from still to bottle. And we all love a good story. In "Craft Spirit World," over 100 of the best examples on the market of gin, vodka, rum, whisky, bourbon, cognac, and more are revealed, , coming from producers dotted across the globe—from New Zealand and South Africa to Scotland, Italy, Canada, and the United States. Each entry then covers the history behind the drink, where to get it, and, most importantly, what it tastes like.

This Palgrave Handbook offers the first international comparative study into the efficiency of the industrial organization of the global wine industry. Looking at several important vineyards of the main wine countries, the contributors analyze differences in implementation and articulation of three key stages: grape production, wine making and distribution (marketing, selling and logistics). By examining regulations, organization theory, industry organizational efficiency and vertical integration, up to date strategies in the sector are presented and appraised. Which models are most efficient? What are the most relevant factors for optimal performance? How do reputation and governance impact the industry? Should different models co-exist within the wine countries for global success? This comprehensive volume is essential reading for students, researchers and professionals in the wine industry.

Traditional foods, diets and food systems play an important role in people’s nutritional status. As the best products of traditional food systems, geographical indication (GI) foods have a great potential to contribute to healthy diets and curb non-communicable diseases. This paper presents five case studies around the world on the nutritional potential of registered GI foods and explores the link between the production processes and the nutritional composition of the final products. The nutritional characteristics of these foods can be largely attributed to their unique ingredients and production procedures, which are linked to their geographical origins.The paper also discusses the development of GI specifications to maintain and improve nutritional values, the role of GI foods in healthy diets, and the determination of food composition. Finally, suggestions on how to leverage GI foods for healthy diets are provided.

**2020 James Beard Award Nominee** **2020 Gourmand Cookbook Award Winner for Japan in Spirits Books** Drink your way through Japan (even from home) with the help of this book! Japan is home to some of the world's most interesting alcoholic beverages--from traditional Sake and Shochu to Japanese whisky, beer, wine and cocktails that are winning global acclaim and awards. In this comprehensive survey of Japanese drinks, experts Stephen Lyman and Chris Bunting cover all the main types of beverages found in Japanese bars and restaurants, as well as supermarkets and liquor stores around the world. The book has chapters on Sake, Shochu, whisky, wine, beer, Awamori (a moonshine-like liquor from Okinawa), Umeshu plum wine and other fruit wines. There is also a fascinating chapter on modern Japanese-style cocktails--complete with recipes so you can get the authentic experience, including: Sour Plum Cordial Sakura Martini Improved Shochu Cocktail Far East Side Cocktail Thorough descriptions of the varieties of each beverage are given along with the history, production methods, current trends and how to drink them. Detailed bar and buyer's guides at the back of the book list specialist establishments where readers can go to enjoy and purchase the drinks, both in Japan and cities around the world, including London, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, Shanghai and more! This is an indispensable book for anyone interested in brewing, distilling, new cocktails or Japanese culture, travel and cuisine. Kampai! Cheers!