A Napa Valley Cabernet, a French Burgundy, an Orvieto Classico shared among friends in the Umbrian hills—every wine has a story and Gerald Asher tells it best. Asher has an unsurpassed knowledge of vineyards, wineries and wines. He also has the refreshing ability to write about wine informatively and entertainingly without technical jargon. Now in paperback, Asher's delightful Vineyard Tales evaluates wines from around the world—from secret sun-drenched vineyards on Crete to the celebrated Champagne houses of France—setting each wine in the context of a region's history and culture. In addition, Asher offers an expert's advice on decanting, tasting and serving wine. Connoisseurs looking for greater insight, novices seeking an introduction, or readers who simply want to enjoy armchair travel to the world's finest vineyards, will find this book irresistible and discover that along the way they also have learned a great deal about wine.