Author Interview "Jason Arnold"
Jason Arnold is a Wine Connoisseur, art collector, and professional accountant. He's traveled the world in search of the finest quality wines, where he often takes time to ski the local slopes or scuba dive at nearby reefs. He enjoys trying new wines and introducing newcomers to the fascinating world of wine.
Exclusive Interview
What inspired you to start writing The Beginners Guide to Wine?
Well, in the wine world there aren't many books that explain everything that goes into making wine and how to select one. For the beginner, it can be hard to decide between a red, white, or rosé. And even of you decide on red, for example, you have to know whether a particular wine is light or full-bodied. Then do you get one from France or California. Hopefully, in this book I provide some practical advice to help you decide.
The challenge for most people is that, when they are just getting started in wine, they just don't understand all the differences. There are so many different wines to explore and enjoy, but there wasn't a good place to begin. That's why I decided to write a simple guide to understanding wine. I wanted to take the knowledge and information I gained and publish it for the benefit of others.
This is your first work. How long did it actually take to write the book?
Well I think most people would be surprised to know that it only took me about forty hours to write this book. And I did it in just a few days. But I set aside everything else in my life to bring it to life. It actually took years to learn everything that I share, but the actual writing took far less. I think when you are passionate about something, it's easy to write about it. The problem most people have when writing their book is that they don't just set down and do it. That advice about writing a little everyday, just doesn't work for me. I think of you really want to do something, you have to sit down and make it happen.
What interests you most about wine?
For me, wine is as much about what's in the glass as it is about the social aspect of it. One of my favorite places to enjoy wine is at an art gallery. Wine is very much an art. Discussing the finer details is what makes it enjoyable. I guess you could say that I find it much more sophisticated than the other beverages I could enjoy. There is so much that goes into making it and such a large variety, that there is a lot to discuss and there is something for everyone. It would be just as difficult to say that there is just one favorite.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
I hope they come away from it with a much greater appreciation for wine. By the time they get to the last page, they should know the difference between European and American wines and be able to describe several styles of wine. They'll learn about the common grapes, the wine making process, and how to properly taste wine. There's a special technique to truly enjoy the experience. I want the reader to be comfortable going over a wine list and choosing on that works for them.
What is something else that your readers will discover, that you haven't mentioned yet?
I have a section on wine terminology. The world of wine has its own lingo that can be complicated and overwhelming to someone just getting started. In a way, describing wine is a lot like learning a new language. But I break it down, so that the reader can begin sounding like a seasoned wine connoisseur.
Wow Jason, that sounds difficult. Is there anything that's not in the book?
Yeah, I didn't go over everything. Since it's designed to be an introduction to wine I tried to keep the focus on the most essential topics. So while I did go over how the climate affects the grapes, I didn't cover how all the soil conditions also affect them. If they want this information, there is another great book called The World Atlas of Wine. And while I explained how to read and understand a wine label, I spared the reader of all the details about how to tell an authentic wine from a fraud. I just didn't think that it was necessary here, because it's unlikely that the beginner would be spending thousands of dollars on a bottle of wine.
These are things I may discuss further in a future work or on my blog, jasonmarnold.com. Actually, the hard part for me was deciding what to include and what to leave out. But I had to make a choice. I wanted the book to include the most essential information for the beginner and encourage them to branch out from there. Wine is something you never stop learning more about.
Where can I find your book?
Oh yeah, I'm supposed to plug the book during these interviews. Here it goes: The Beginners Guide to Wine is available on Amazon.com. You can find it in both Paperback and Kindle formats. To purchase it visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BW5Y3NB
The Beginner’s Guide to Wine includes ten chapters of information on viticulture, oenology, and wine appreciation. It begins by describing the rich history of wine production and everything that goes into producing the wine. The book will take the audience step by step through the process beginning with the growing and harvesting the grapes, continuing to fermentation, and finally with the enjoyment of that wine.
Some of the topics covered include wine classification, the different styles of wine, and popular winemaking regions. It describes proper etiquette for a wine tasting, how to select the right wine, and provides a list of resources for further learning. The Beginner’s Guide to Wine covers all of the most popular wine-producing regions in Europe and the Americas. By the time someone teaches the end, he’ll better grasp of the terminology surrounding wine and a greater appreciation of the different varieties.