I was privileged to join book buyers, magazine editors and representatives from the wine industry gathered for an intimate tasting led by Jancis Robinson MW on Thursday (14) for the unveiling of the first copy of a soon-to-be-published wine book.

Wine enthusiasts will certainly be taking their appreciation to a new level with the publication of the book called Wine Grapes from Jancis Robinson MW, Julia Harding MW and José Vouillamoz.

We learned how Wine Grapes uses the most cutting-edge DNA to identify 1,368 distinct grape varieties, as well as countless correct synonyms, and highlighting almost as many incorrect ones.

Talking to the intimate gathered group, Jancis explained: “There is huge interest in non-standard grape varieties and we include the origins and history of each varieties, as well as interesting social stories, details of where they are grown, how much is grown and what it’s been called and what the wine tastes like now.”

Boasting 1200 pages, the book is four years work by Jancis Robinson MW, one of the world’s best-known wine writers; Julia Harding MW, Jancis’ full-time researcher, co-ordinator and associate palate and José Vouillamoz a botanist and grape geneticist.

To highlight some of the lesser-known grape varieties in the book, the tasting included a refreshing Vermentino from the south of France; a steely Assyrtiko from Santorini, Greece; Verdelho from McLaren Vale, South Australia; Freisa from Piedmont, Italy; Mencia from Galicia, Spain and Plavac Mali from South Croatia.

Wine Grapes, available from Berry Bros. & Rudd from late October, is set to move interested wine appreciators into a new space. Watch this space! http://winegrapes.org/