Under the careful guidance of his father, Patrick Alexander began drinking wine with his meals at the age of five. At the same age, encouraged by his mother, he began a lifelong love-affair with books. The twin pleasures of wine and writing remained his passion for the next sixty-five years. He has raised his own children in many of the world's great wine growing regions, from Bordeaux and Piedmont in Europe to the Santa Cruz mountains of California while researching and writing his definitive guide to the novels of Marcel Proust. For the past six years, Patrick has been teaching a sold-out wine appreciation class at the nation's No.1 independent bookstore, Books & Books in Coral Gables. The Booklover's Guide to Wine is based on this very successful class and blends Patrick's passion for the history and culture of wine with his love of literature. A literary twist on traditional food and wine pairings, this book explores how great wines and great writers can be combined to enhance the enjoyment of both. The book describes the history of wine from the time of Noah to the birth of two-buck Chuck. It explores the significance of terroir and varietal, the differences between Old World and New World wines and explains why England, a small island with almost no vineyards, is such a dominant force in the world of wine. The book also shows the relationship between Charles Dickens with Cabernet Sauvignon, Jane Austin with Chardonnay, J.R.R. Tolkien with Albarino and Shakespeare with Sherry. This fact-filled, jargon free guide, bursting with entertaining anecdotes, literary quotes and compelling humor will teach you everything you always wanted to learn about wine but were too scared to ask.