This book is designed to act as an encyclopaedia of wines and a practical guide to choosing and appreciating wine. It contains taste charts, giving details of individual wines - how they are grown, tasting notes, the best recent vintages and when to drink particular wines. Maps show the major wine regions of each country, with principal districts within each region highlighted as well as the whereabouts of individual chateaux and vineyards. Tom Stevenson is the author of the "Sunday Telegraph Good Wine Guide" and "Champagne".