This truly exceptional miscellany of anecdotes, facts, quotable quotes, and interesting stories celebrates wine in all its guises: from the mythical origin of the toast (it was customary for guests to tip part of their drink into their companion's glass to prevent being poisoned at a dinner) to the exact number of references to wine in the Bible (441) to the debate over whether Dom Perignon discovered bubbles, effectively inventing champagne, or simply the tradition of blending the grapes in the drink he described as "like drinking stars." With references to world-class French vineyards and favored grape varieties, the author covers the topic in a fascinating pastiche. Through quotes illustrating how traditions persist, such as Napolean's "You drink champagne in victory, and you need it in defeat," this exquisitely produced volume is the perfect gift for the wine aficionado or bon vivant.