DECEMBER 21, 2017 // 19
BOOKMONGER
For wine-lovers on your Christmas list
Borrowing a page from 19th century
French novelist Jules Verne, Tacoma writ-
er Mike Veseth has conceived his own
globe-trotting book.
But in the 21st century, Veseth — who
is a University of Puget Sound professor
emeritus of international political econo-
my — doesn’t face the same challenges that
Phileas Fogg did. Instead of trying to beat the
clock, Veseth’s goal is to refill his wineglass
as much as possible (in the name of research,
of course) as he travels to vineyards on every
continent except Antarctica. You can read
about the results in “Around the World in
Eighty Wines.”
Hewing to Vernian tradition at the begin-
ning of his quest, Veseth makes a pilgrimage
to the Reform Club in London, the site that
Verne chose as the starting point of Phileas
Fogg’s journey.
But for the symbolic launch of his own
travels, Veseth selects a spot that is just a few
blocks away — a wine shop that has been in
operation since 1698.
Veseth notes that London’s beginnings as
the epicenter of the wine industry go back
another 500 years before that, when the future
King Henry II married Eleanor of Aquita-
ine, whose extensive landholdings in France
included the Bordeaux region, famous even
then for its vineyards.
And in that manner, the author continues
to flavor his discussion of wines, vineyards,
vintners and oenologists with fascinating
notes on history, geography, technology, even
sports and politics.
The signing of the U.S. Declaration of
Independence was toasted with Madeira, for
example, while Thailand’s wine industry got a
big boost from a populist political movement
in the early 2000s.
Veseth first travels to France and Italy,
both of which have top reputations for their
wines.
He provides a primer on the differences
between Bordeaux and Burgundy wines.
Bordeaux wines are judged by the skill of
their producers, while Burgundy most highly
prizes the terroir — the soil, topography and
climate in which the grapes are grown. Bor-
deaux vineyards are “broad and abundant”
and represent wine “as a business opportuni-
ty,” while Burgundy wine production, limited
to a much smaller region, has a more mystical
appeal.
“Burgundy isn’t for the world, it is for
France,” Veseth remarks.
Italian wines, on the other hand, are more
difficult to categorize, with a vast range of
Haystack Holidays
CANNON BEACH
Holiday Foods Around The World
Celebration… Coming to you on:
Tuesday, Dec. 26 th thru Friday Dec. 29 th , 2017
International Festival of foods from 9 different countries!
Special menus for just one night only each, you will
want to dine out all week for this extravaganza!
Tuesday, December 26 th
Pelican Pub and Brewhouse – India
1371 S. Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 908-3377
Wednesday, December 27 th
The Trail Band Concert Night
Newman’s at 988 – France
988 S Hemlock St, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-1151
Bill’s Tavern and Brewhouse – Mexico
188 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-2202
Thursday, December 28 th
Cannon Beach Hardware – Japan
1235 S Hemlock St, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-4086
The Bistro – Spain
263 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-2661
“Around the World
in Eighty Wines”
By Mike Veseth
Rowman & Littlefield
224 pp
$24.95
regional variants, depending on where, along
that long boot into the Mediterranean, the
grapes are grown.
The journey gets even more interesting
when Veseth ventures to places like Syria,
the war-torn country whose Domaine de
Bargylus has a reputation for being “the most
dangerous wine in the world.” Then it’s on to
vineyards in India, Thailand and Bali, which
are producing “New Latitudes” wines that
challenge the conventional belief that wine
grapes grow only in certain climates.
Veseth also tours the Americas, and a
Walla Walla wine — L’Ecole 41 Ferguson
Vineyard — wins one of the coveted spots on
Veseth’s limited list.
“Around the World in Eighty Wines” is af-
fable and informative — and should be a sure
bet for the wine-lovers on your Christmas list.
The Bookmonger is Barbara Lloyd
McMichael, who writes this weekly column
focusing on the books, authors and publish-
ers of the Pacific Northwest. Contact her at
bkmonger@nwlink.com.
Friday, December 29 th
The Wayfarer Restaurant – Argentina
1190 Pacifi c Drive, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-1108
Public Coast – Germany
264 E 3rd St, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-0285
Sweet Basil’s – British Isles
271 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-1539
Season’s Cafe – Thailand
255 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach • Call (503) 436-1159
Call the restaurant or go to cannonbeach.org for menu details
www.cannonbeach.org/events/Main-Events/Holiday-Foods-Around-the-World-Haystack-Holidays
Holiday Concert with
THE
Trail Band
December 27 th
at the
Coaster Theatre
Limited Seating
Tickets Only $ 39
Purchase online at:
www.cannonbeach.org