A History and Description of Modern Wines
- Year
- 1833
- Era
- 19th century
- Origin
- England · Europe
- Language
- English
- Category
- Drinks/Confectionery
A History and Description of Modern Wines, first published in 1833, established a new framework for writing about wine in English. Cyrus Redding surveyed the vineyards and wines of Europe and beyond, organising them by region and grape, and discussing viticulture, vinification, and trade. Widely regarded as the foundation of modern wine literature, the work shaped subsequent English-language wine writing throughout the nineteenth century and was reissued in revised editions.
Cooking from this book
Champagne
Signature dishThough not a dish, Champagne stands as the emblematic subject of Redding's landmark survey. He was among the first English writers to describe with clarity the sparkling wines of the Marne, distinguishing the still from the effervescent and tracing the methods of the region's growers. His treatment helped fix Champagne in the British imagination as the pinnacle of festive drinking, and his careful, comparative approach laid the groundwork for all serious wine writing that followed.
An editorial note on a dish associated with this book, written for The Coquinist. It is not a reproduction of the book's recipe.
