First published 2018
Professional journalist Bianca Bosker knew little about wine until she stumbled into an alternate universe where taste rules everything. She discovered a world of elite sommeliers who devote their entire lives to chasing flavor, people with seemingly superhuman sensory abilities. Their obsession astounded her. She decided to investigate what drove their fervor and whether she could transform into a "cork dork" herself. Bosker brings curiosity, humor, and skepticism to her quest. She takes readers into underground tasting groups and exclusive New York City restaurants. She visits California mass-market wine factories and even climbs into a neuroscientist's fMRI machine. Her mission centers on one persistent question: what makes wine such a big deal? Her discoveries will transform how you drink wine and possibly how you approach life.
Genres: non-fiction, 21st-century, food-and-drink, academic
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water
Setting: California, New York City
Period: 21st-century
571 pages · Paperback · Large Print Press