I love this little gem! (Or should I say, Ghemme?)

I found this book in a box of my father's old restaurant things. It was written and published in 1989 (ie, the Paleolithic Era in wine years), but most of the producers they mention are still making exceptional wine! It's fascinating to see how the world of Italian wine has evolved since then. This was just as the Super Tuscan explosion was starting, so DOCs such as Bolgheri and Maremma didn't exist (These appellations were elevated from IGT to DOC in 1994 and 2011, respectively). What I love about this book is that it's not commercialized, there's no marketing ulterior motive, and it's jam-packed with information. It has a list of the top producers and vintages for each varietal or style, and these producers aren't named "top" just because they advertise in Wine Spectator....amazing. The maps, although outdated, are in color and very specific. It's particularly useful for the smaller, more obscure regions, sub-regions, and varietals that are often overlooked. It hearkens back to a time when Italian wine, for those who knew it intimately, was more than just Barolo and Chianti. It was also Bardolino and Vespolina and Nero di Troia. I believe that the age for these wines to return to American appreciation is coming. Author David Gleave is a member of the Masters of Wines and founded Liberty Wines Ltd in 1997. He is one of the UK's leading experts on Italian wine. Consultant Editor Joanna Simon is a British wine journalist and author.