Secrets of the Sommeliers: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals
Secrets of the Sommeliers: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals
Overview
“Parr & Jordan open a window onto the workings of a great sommeliers mind. . . .The result is part history lesson, part insider’s guide to the best producers and best buys, but, most of all, it’s a testament to all the hard work that goes into being a great sommelier.”—Wine & Spirits, December 2010“If you or your friends want to read about wine and friendship, learn about the camaraderie of the sommelier profession, and discover from insiders how to select wine, you must absolutely get Rajat Parr and Jordan McKay's new book,Secrets of the Sommeliers.”—The Atlantic’s Food Channel, 12/20/10“No one understands the meaningful details of enjoying wine - and how to communicate them to the public – quite like a skilled sommelier, and Rajat Parr, the wine director for Michael Mina's many restaurants, is one of America's best. In his collaboration with journalist Jordan Mackay, Parr manages to pour forth an impressive breadth of wisdom, both practical and esoteric, in a very manageable 200-page gulp illustrated with evocative sepia-toned photos.”—Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/16/10“The best wine book to come across my desk in awhile. . . . This intelligent, understated book is a must for any wine lover, budding or educated.”—San Francisco Bay Guardian, Appetite: Delicious giving, 12/3/10“Readers will put this book down with a better understanding of their restaurant experience, and may head put to dine with a little less fear of the sommelier. And while we don't typically dine at home the way we do in restaurants, our own wine choices as ‘home sommeliers’ will be better informed from this book.”—WashingtonPost.com, All We Can Eat blog, 12/2/10“Parr and Mackay’s handbook for aspiring sommeliers is, unexpectedly, one of the most user-friendly manuals for the wine-curious to come along. . . . That’s because its subject isn’t really wine—it’s how to master the practical application of wine to every-day life. Everything in the book (especially the candid anecdotes from wine masters) illuminates an aspect of tasting, buying, pairing, or pouring. And insider tips not covered in more encyclopedic tomes, such as how to recognize boutique “grower” champagnes just from the label, are guaranteed to boost your wine ego after a single read.”—San Francisco magazine, November 2010“A new take to the omnibus-guide genre. ‘Secrets’ harnesses Parr's immense pool of knowledge and observations from the nation's top wine directors for a pointed, thoughtful take on the essentials of wine.”—San Francisco Chronicle, 11/28/10“For the advanced wine geek, this book will become a bible. . . . If you're not thinking like a sommelier now you will be by book's end.”—San Jose Mercury News, Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies, 11/24/10"A good gift for the wine-obsessed."—S. Irene Virbila, L.A. Times Daily Dish blog, 11/15/10“‘Secrets’ performs the invaluable task of mining not only Parr's brain but also the expertise of many Bay Area sommelierati for a very focused take on how to choose wine, understand a wine list and buy with a savvy eye. . . .It provides an inside track that's so often missing from most buying guides' neutral tone.”—San Francisco Chronicle, 11/7/10"Oenophiles on any level could learn from this exploration into the inside world of wine and the people who present it."—Gayot.com, 11/1/10“Parr, director of wine for Michael Mina's restaurants, and San Francisco-based writer Jordan Mackay have penned an indispensable tool. Not simply a peek into the mind of Parr and his wine-loving compatriots, the book is full of useful tips.”—Tasting Table SF, 10/19/10"Whether your aspiration is to become a world class sommelier, or simply to find a better bottle of Burgundy, this is a must-have book for any passionate wine consumer."—Jon Troutman, Corkd.com, 10/19/10“Let me say that this is a fascinating look at a world of after-hours tastings and tenacious debates, at the wines that many sommeliers care most about, and at restaurant service from an insider’s view. We meet many unusual and charismatic personalities, not least of whom is Mr. Parr, whose journey from a childhood in Calcutta to the highest level of American wine culture is testimony to energy, talent and hard work. And, in the tradition of the best sommeliers, useful lessons and tips are conveyed painlessly and entertainingly.”—Eric Asimov, New York Times Diner’s Journal, 10/5/10"It's a comprehensive book that's perfect for any oenophile—or anybody wanting to become one."—Condé Nast Traveler, Moveable Feast blog, 8/6/10Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
“Parr & Jordan open a window onto the workings of a great sommeliers mind. . . .The result is part history lesson, part insider’s guide to the best producers and best buys, but, most of all, it’s a testament to all the hard work that goes into being a great sommelier.”—Wine & Spirits, December 2010“If you or your friends want to read about wine and friendship, learn about the camaraderie of the sommelier profession, and discover from insiders how to select wine, you must absolutely get Rajat Parr and Jordan McKay's new book,Secrets of the Sommeliers.”—The Atlantic’s Food Channel, 12/20/10“No one understands the meaningful details of enjoying wine - and how to communicate them to the public – quite like a skilled sommelier, and Rajat Parr, the wine director for Michael Mina's many restaurants, is one of America's best. In his collaboration with journalist Jordan Mackay, Parr manages to pour forth an impressive breadth of wisdom, both practical and esoteric, in a very manageable 200-page gulp illustrated with evocative sepia-toned photos.”—Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/16/10“The best wine book to come across my desk in awhile. . . . This intelligent, understated book is a must for any wine lover, budding or educated.”—San Francisco Bay Guardian, Appetite: Delicious giving, 12/3/10“Readers will put this book down with a better understanding of their restaurant experience, and may head put to dine with a little less fear of the sommelier. And while we don't typically dine at home the way we do in restaurants, our own wine choices as ‘home sommeliers’ will be better informed from this book.”—WashingtonPost.com, All We Can Eat blog, 12/2/10“Parr and Mackay’s handbook for aspiring sommeliers is, unexpectedly, one of the most user-friendly manuals for the wine-curious to come along. . . . That’s because its subject isn’t really wine—it’s how to master the practical application of wine to every-day life. Everything in the book (especially the candid anecdotes from wine masters) illuminates an aspect of tasting, buying, pairing, or pouring. And insider tips not covered in more encyclopedic tomes, such as how to recognize boutique “grower” champagnes just from the label, are guaranteed to boost your wine ego after a single read.”—San Francisco magazine, November 2010“A new take to the omnibus-guide genre. ‘Secrets’ harnesses Parr's immense pool of knowledge and observations from the nation's top wine directors for a pointed, thoughtful take on the essentials of wine.”—San Francisco Chronicle, 11/28/10“For the advanced wine geek, this book will become a bible. . . . If you're not thinking like a sommelier now you will be by book's end.”—San Jose Mercury News, Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies, 11/24/10"A good gift for the wine-obsessed."—S. Irene Virbila, L.A. Times Daily Dish blog, 11/15/10“‘Secrets’ performs the invaluable task of mining not only Parr's brain but also the expertise of many Bay Area sommelierati for a very focused take on how to choose wine, understand a wine list and buy with a savvy eye. . . .It provides an inside track that's so often missing from most buying guides' neutral tone.”—San Francisco Chronicle, 11/7/10"Oenophiles on any level could learn from this exploration into the inside world of wine and the people who present it."—Gayot.com, 11/1/10“Parr, director of wine for Michael Mina's restaurants, and San Francisco-based writer Jordan Mackay have penned an indispensable tool. Not simply a peek into the mind of Parr and his wine-loving compatriots, the book is full of useful tips.”—Tasting Table SF, 10/19/10"Whether your aspiration is to become a world class sommelier, or simply to find a better bottle of Burgundy, this is a must-have book for any passionate wine consumer."—Jon Troutman, Corkd.com, 10/19/10“Let me say that this is a fascinating look at a world of after-hours tastings and tenacious debates, at the wines that many sommeliers care most about, and at restaurant service from an insider’s view. We meet many unusual and charismatic personalities, not least of whom is Mr. Parr, whose journey from a childhood in Calcutta to the highest level of American wine culture is testimony to energy, talent and hard work. And, in the tradition of the best sommeliers, useful lessons and tips are conveyed painlessly and entertainingly.”—Eric Asimov, New York Times Diner’s Journal, 10/5/10"It's a comprehensive book that's perfect for any oenophile—or anybody wanting to become one."—Condé Nast Traveler, Moveable Feast blog, 8/6/10Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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