“A myth-busting, history-reclaiming, science-centric, skeptical—and yet loving and respectful—tour of the history, the present, and even the future of wine production.” —Cat Warren, author of What the Dog Knows “This is quite a book and I hope it is read widely throughout the wine world and that it has a huge impact. The fact that current practices have put a halt to evolution for wine grapes, that was news to me. Tasting the Past shocked the hell out of me.” —Kermit Lynch, wine merchant and author of Adventures on the Wine Route Discover the hidden life of wine. After a chance encounter with an obscure Middle Eastern red, journalist Kevin Begos embarks on a ten-year journey to seek the origins of wine. What he unearths is a whole world of forgotten grapes, each with distinctive tastes and aromas, as well as the archaeologists, geneticists, chemists—even a paleobotanist—who are deciphering wine down to molecules of flavor. We meet a young scientist who sets out to decode the DNA of every single wine grape in the world; a researcher who seeks to discover the wines that Caesar and Cleopatra drank; and an academic who has spent decades analyzing wine remains to pinpoint ancient vineyards. Science illuminates wine in ways no critic can, and it has demolished some of the most sacred dogmas of the industry: for example, well-known French grapes aren’t especially noble. We travel with Begos along the original wine routes—starting in the Caucasus Mountains, where wine grapes were first domesticated eight thousand years ago; then down to Israel and across the Mediterranean to Greece, Italy, and France; and finally to America where vintners are just now beginning to make distinctive wines from a new generation of local grapes. Imagine the wine grape version of heirloom vegetables or craft beer, or better yet, taste it: Begos offers readers drinking suggestions that go far beyond the endless bottles of Chardonnay and Merlot found in most stores and restaurants. In this viticultural detective story wine geeks and history lovers alike will discover new tastes and flavors to savor.
A vintner’s blend of science, history, travel, and tantalizing drink recommendations." --Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist In search of a mysterious wine he once tasted in a hotel room minibar, journalist Kevin Begos travels along the original wine routes—from the Caucasus Mountains, where wine grapes were first domesticated eight thousand years ago, crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, and then America—and unearths a whole world of forgotten grapes, each with distinctive tastes and aromas. We meet the scientists who are decoding the DNA of wine grapes, and the historians who are searching for ancient vineyards and the flavors cultivated there. Begos discovers wines that go far beyond the bottles of Chardonnay and Merlot found in most stores and restaurants, and he offers suggestions for wines that are at once ancient and new.
With little oversight, the Eugenics Board of North Carolina ordered the sterilization of thousands of the state's most vulnerable citizens. This award-winning series led to an apology from the North Carolina governor and the first legislation in the nation seeking to compensate victims of eugenics, or involuntary sterilization.
“A myth-busting, history-reclaiming, science-centric, skeptical—and yet loving and respectful—tour of the history, the present, and even the future of wine production.” —Cat Warren, author of What the Dog Knows “This is quite a book and I hope it is read widely throughout the wine world and that it has a huge impact. The fact that current practices have put a halt to evolution for wine grapes, that was news to me. Tasting the Past shocked the hell out of me.” —Kermit Lynch, wine merchant and author of Adventures on the Wine Route Discover the hidden life of wine. After a chance encounter with an obscure Middle Eastern red, journalist Kevin Begos embarks on a ten-year journey to seek the origins of wine. What he unearths is a whole world of forgotten grapes, each with distinctive tastes and aromas, as well as the archaeologists, geneticists, chemists—even a paleobotanist—who are deciphering wine down to molecules of flavor. We meet a young scientist who sets out to decode the DNA of every single wine grape in the world; a researcher who seeks to discover the wines that Caesar and Cleopatra drank; and an academic who has spent decades analyzing wine remains to pinpoint ancient vineyards. Science illuminates wine in ways no critic can, and it has demolished some of the most sacred dogmas of the industry: for example, well-known French grapes aren’t especially noble. We travel with Begos along the original wine routes—starting in the Caucasus Mountains, where wine grapes were first domesticated eight thousand years ago; then down to Israel and across the Mediterranean to Greece, Italy, and France; and finally to America where vintners are just now beginning to make distinctive wines from a new generation of local grapes. Imagine the wine grape version of heirloom vegetables or craft beer, or better yet, taste it: Begos offers readers drinking suggestions that go far beyond the endless bottles of Chardonnay and Merlot found in most stores and restaurants. In this viticultural detective story wine geeks and history lovers alike will discover new tastes and flavors to savor.
According to Live Science, in the year 2000 there were approximately 276,000 natural gas wells in the United States. In 2010, that number soared to 510,000. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that fracking is most profitable in Texas and in the Marcellus Shale area, which reaches from central New York to Ohio and down to Virginia. This timely volume explains what fracking is, how the process works, and describes the benefits and the drawbacks of this energy technology. Visually appealing presentations and compelling examples provide readers with context and inspire critical thought about the way fracking affects the earth.
From the union of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers at the Georgia-Florida state line, the mighty Apalachicola River flows unimpeded for about 100 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. At the river's mouth lies Apalachicola Bay and Florida's "Forgotten Coast," known for world-class seafood and seemingly endless miles of pristine beaches, shallow estuaries, and protected forests. In Apalachicola Bay, author Kevin McCarthy takes us through the history of the bays sites and communities. With vibrant color paintings by William Trotter, Apalachicola Bay will let you savor some authentic Florida history and see what makes this "Forgotten Coast" memorable for residents and visitors alike.
An extensive look at the large-caliber guns of the Napoleonic period, the battles in which they were used, and the important figures in those conflicts. In this heavily researched study, Kevin Kiley examines Napoleon’s own artillery as well as that employed by his enemies, and he evaluates the gunners’ contribution to warfare in the period. By looking at particular battles in detail, Kevin Kiley shows just how the effective employment of artillery could tip the scales of victory. Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars reveals much of the technical aspects of gunnery during the period—how guns were placed, their range, what calibers were preferred, how artillery operates. It examines French artillery, including that of the Imperial Guard, and compares it to that of Britain, Russia, and Austria; it also looks at many of the personalities involved and the difference between good gunnery and mediocre artillery. Illustrated with beautiful line drawings and rare contemporary plates, this unique book reveals a whole new dimension to the Napoleonic period. Based on years of research into regulations of the period, eyewitness accounts of artillerymen, and material culled from official reports, this is a definitive account. “This must undoubtedly become the standard work for anyone interested in the artillery of the period.” —Waterloo Journal
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