Exploring Wine Regions
| Exploring Wine Regions – Argentina,
Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France | |
| Author | Michael C. Higgins, PhD |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Discipline | Wine, Gastronomy, Travel, Winemaking, Wine Tasting, Vineyards, Terroir |
| Publisher | International Exploration Society |
| Media type | Print and Digital |
| No. of books | 11[1] |
| Website | exploringwineregions |
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Exploring Wine Regions is a coffee-table style wine tourism book series by Michael C. Higgins, PhD. The series explores wine regions while serving as an elaborate travel guide and an educational series (for novices and experts alike) providing insights from winemakers, chefs, sommeliers and other wine, tourism and hospitality professionals.[2][3]
Overview[edit]
The Exploring Wine Regions book series began in 2013 with three years of research conducted in Argentina for the first book, Exploring Wine Regions – Argentina, which was then published in 2016. The desire to understand why Malbec wines have become so successful in Argentina inspired the author to conduct such extensive research and begin this series. The second book in the series, Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France, began in 2017 with another three years of research conducted in Bordeaux France. This book was then published in 2020. Currently, research is taking place in California for the next book in the series.[4]
The author, Michael C. Higgins, PhD, is a wine expert and professional photographer with over 20 years of experience in travel publishing. Higgins worked for 20 years as the publisher of Flying Adventures, a lifestyle travel magazine geared for those who own their own airplanes and enjoy good food, wine and travel. Higgins completely immerses himself in his passion for wine. His ardor has led him into the world of winemakers and wine connoisseurs, taken him into the vineyards to work alongside the harvesters and agronomists, and into the winemaking process alongside vintners, oenologist and technical directors, including the making of his own wines. He has sampled the finest vintages with celebrity chefs, attended wine auctions and special wine events, and tasted countless varieties. The book series is published by the International Exploration Society, a non-profit organization whose mission is to explore the world to foster awareness and inspire appreciation of the many wonders of the world.[5][6]
First book: Exploring Wine Regions – Argentina[edit]
The first book explores Argentina's wine regions; starting from well-known Mendoza to the lesser-known growing areas of Rio Negro, the world's southernmost wine region, and Salta, the highest elevation vineyards in the world. The book also covers culinary and cultural insights, and travel tips.[7][8]
The 352-page first book, Exploring Wine Regions - Argentina: A Culinary, Agricultural and Interesting Journey Through Argentina, starts from the basics of winemaking and explores the places of Argentina in the wine world, to a more professional approach, and explores micro-appellations, sub-regions and their special characteristics. A consistency throughout the series, the books share experiences in culinary, romantic, cultural, and outdoor adventures as a part of its text as well as photography content. The book's pages are glossy and colorful with 550 color photographs throughout.[9][10][11]
According to the book's editorial reviews, Higgins explored 58 wineries, consulted with 107 winemakers and tasted 583 bottles of wine in Argentina to write the first book, Exploring Wine Regions - Argentina: A Culinary, Agricultural and Interesting Journey Through Argentina. This research was conducted over a course of three years (2013, 2014 and 2015) of consecutive harvest seasons in Argentina forming relationships with oenologists, sommeliers and wine insiders that included 107 winemakers. The book was officially published on October 1, 2016, and won two awards: Best Travel & Wine Book of 2016, and Best Travel Book of 2017.[12][13]
Second book: Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France[edit]
The second book explores Bordeaux France's wine regions; starting with the geological and man-made history of the region, and explores the appellations and sub-regions, and their special characterists. The book includes the appellations of the Médoc wine regions (Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, and Saint-Estèphe), Graves wine regions (Pessac-Léognan and Sauternes), Saint-Émilion wine regions, Pomerol wine regions, and the Fronsac wine regions.[14][15]
The 494-page second book, Exploring Wine Regions - Bordeaux France: Discover Wine, Food, Castles, and The French Way of Life, explores the long history of wine, gastronomy and castles in Bordeaux. Entire chapters are devoted to the Bordeaux City Center and the Saint-Émilion Village, both of which are medieval and registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an easy-to-read travel guide, complete with detailed maps of tourism hot spots, quaint hamlets, castles, wineries, restaurants, accommodations, and attractions for both the novice traveler venturing into the region for the first time as well as the well-seasoned Francophiles. The book includes the addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and website addresses to help travelers plan ahead by giving them the information needed to research and reserve their spot at each of the unique places exhibited. A consistency throughout the series, the books share experiences in culinary, romantic, cultural, and outdoor adventures as a part of its text as well as photography content. The book's pages are glossy and colorful with nearly 1,000 color photographs considered high-quality and alluring by other photographers, artists and poets alike.[16][17][18]
According to the editorial reviews, the book has been called "the ultimate book for wine lovers" by DEPARTURES Magazine, it is part coffee-table book, part wine geek guide, and mostly travel guide. It is useful for sightseeing travelers as well as serious students of wine; comprehensive in its presentation of tourism and wine education at all levels. Higgins is reported to have immersed himself over three years (2017, 2018 and 2019) in Bordeaux researching during spring, summer and fall harvest times, working with people who are at the forefront of wine and wine hospitality. The book was officially published on October 1, 2020, and has won five awards, including: Best Travel Book of 2020, and Best Travel Guide of 2020.[19][20]
Author and photographer[edit]
Michael C. Higgins, PhD, based in Pasadena, California, has been an author, photographer, and wine expert for over 20 years, who published Flying Adventures Magazine, a lifestyle travel magazine for people passionate about food, wine and travel. Higgins has traveled the world exploring the best wine regions. He has pruned vines, picked grapes, worked directly with winemakers, done blind tastings, curated food and wine pairings, judged Cru Bourgeois wines, and spent countless hours with renowned winemakers discussing their passion for wine. By education, Higgins has a BA in Commercial Art, an MBA, and a PhD in Business Administration.[21][22]
Awards[edit]
The books are winning awards. As of April 2021, the books have won seven awards. Exploring Wine Regions – Argentina has been honored with two awards. Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France has accumulated five awards.
- Independent Book Publisher Association's 29th Annual Benjamin Franklin Achievement Award honors Exploring Wine Regions – Argentina as the Gold Winner, Best Travel Book of 2017.[23]
- New York City Big Book Award honors Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France as the Best Travel Book of 2020.[24]
In popular culture[edit]
- Wine Tasting (2017) A Feature Film: Students use Exploring Wine Regions as their textbook in the film to study for the Court of Master Sommeliers exam. The book's author, Michael C. Higgins, played the role as their Wine Educator in the film. The Movie Trailer also includes both the book and the book's author.[25][26]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Debra Bokur, Travel Editor, Global Traveler".
- ↑ "Gilion Dumas, Rose City Reader".
- ↑ "Luxury Travel Advisor Magazine".
- ↑ "Gilion Dumas, Rose City Reader".
- ↑ "Cindy Rynning, Grape Experiences".
- ↑ "Laxmi Chaandi, Bix India".
- ↑ Higgins, Michael C. (2020). Exploring Wine Regions: Bordeaux France. ISBN 978-0996966016. Search this book on
- ↑ "Alyssa Holder, HONEST COOKING Magazine".
- ↑ "Gilion Dumas, Rose City Reader".
- ↑ "Alexis Chabert, Sommelier Readings".
- ↑ "Laxmi Chaandi, Biz India".
- ↑ "Cindy Rynning, Grape Experiences".
- ↑ "Luxury Travel Advisor Magazine".
- ↑ Higgins, Michael C. (2020). Exploring Wine Regions: Bordeaux France. ISBN 978-0996966023. Search this book on
- ↑ "Becky Sue Epstein, Editor, Palate Press".
- ↑ "Janine Marsch, Book Reviews & Interviews, The Good Life France Magazine".
- ↑ "Shrab Astee, Book Reviewer, Online Book Club".
- ↑ "Isaac Baker, Terroirist".
- ↑ "Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Writer, Art & Culture, DEPARTURES Magazine".
- ↑ "Laura Manske, FORBES Magazine".
- ↑ Flying Adventures Magazine
- ↑ Richard Nahen, Travel Awaits
- ↑ Benjamin Franklin Achievement Award
- ↑ New York City Big Book Award
- ↑ One Film Fan, Indie Film Review
- ↑ Movie Reviews From The Dark
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