Taking as a starting point the premise that good wine is, above all, what gives you pleasure, Oz Clarke's New Essential Wine Book leads the reader on a cavalry charge through the varied flavours and styles of hundreds of wines from around the world. With his accessible writing, down-to-earth wine criticism and renowned enthusiasm, Oz Clarke builds up a colourful picture of what makes each wine tick. The fourth edition of Oz Clarke's perennial bestseller has again been completely revised and updated to reflect the latest changes in the fast developing world of wine. Clarke explores the many new quality wine regions that have emerged in the last decade, not just in Europe and the USA, but also in Australia, New Zeland, South Africa and South America.Each chapter includes: a general introduction to the regions, with wine maps and information on grape varieties and wine styles; descriptions of what the wines taste like; explanations of how to read the label; evaluations of recent vintages; information on how to enjoy the wines with food; useful, at-a-glance Consumer Information boxes highlighting availability and value for money of specific wine styles; plus best vintages and tasting notes.