Top 12 wine and food books for Fathers' Day 2010
By Tricia Brown
The Real Food Companion by Matthew Evans [©Murdoch Books]
Looking for that special gift for Dad? Judging by the queue of men and cars at a boat show near us recently, many are hoping for a shiny new fishing or cruising outfit, but if your budget doesn't extend that far, then maybe we can help you find that perfect Fathers' Day present.
If he's a wine or beer enthusiast, or loves being in the kitchen and cooking – or both! – here's a baker's dozen suggestions to take the stress out of buying for Dad, including a fishing/cooking book.
Click on the titles to read the full review, and for prices and where to buy.
Books for wine and beer lovers
- Australian Wine Companion 2011, by James Halliday
The Australian Wine Companion is the No. 1 best-selling guide to wineries and wine in Australia. Halliday shares his extensive knowledge of wine via detailed tasting notes, each of which includes vintage-specific ratings and advice on optimal drinking, as well as each wine's closure, alcohol content and price. He provides important details on wineries as well as information about the winemakers.
- Australian Wine Vintages 2011, 28th edition (The Gold Book), by Rob Geddes MW
Australia's longest running wine guide with the wine drinker, collector and traveller in mind. Planning a visit to a wine region has never been easier with advice on which wineries to visit plus where to eat and stay.
- The Big Red Wine Book 2010/11, by Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh
Love red wine? This third edition of The Big Red Wine Book is a ripper. So settle back in your favourite armchair with a glass of red and a copy of this book and prepare to be amazed at the sheer quality and diversity of Australia's fabulous red wines.
- Riesling in Australia, by Ken Helm and Trish Burgess
Perfect for Riesling nuts and any Australian wine lover with more than a passing interest in how our wine industry has developed and where it is going. Delves deep into the history, the regions, the legends and the producers of this esteemed grape variety in Australia.
- Daring Pairings, by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein
This is one of if not the most exciting wine book that we've seen this year. It focuses on ‘new’ or ‘emerging varietals’ – that is, grape varieties that until recently only a few of us may have either heard or tasted, and which are yet to become mainstream. As such it fills a void in the market; small(ish) as this may be at present, it’s growing, driven by travel, increasingly sophisticated palates wanting to try something new, and by changing environmental conditions.
If Dad is right into his wine and you are looking for something different, Daring Pairings is a sure winner.
- The Australian Beer Companion, by Willie Simpson
Released late last year but still relevant, this is a must-have for beer lovers. Focussing solely on our home-grown brewers, The Australian Beer Companion is an armchair journey around each state featuring around 100 of the best breweries and microbreweries in one, beautifully produced book.
- Wolf Blass: Behind the Bow Tie, by Liz Johnston
A great biography celebrating 75 years of the life of one of the most influential characters in the modern South Australian wine industry. As well as wine lovers, it's also a must-read for entrepreneurs and marketers for his five principles for success.
Want more?
- Beer – a definitive guide for beer lovers.
- The Beer Lovers' Guide to Australia – explore the world of Australian beer.
Books for food lovers
- MasterChef Australia The Cookbook Volume 1 – recipes and tips from the 2009 TV series
Whether you love or loathe the MasterChef TV series, there is no doubt that it is having a big impact on home cooking across Australia. Featuring many of the best recipes from the 2009 series in an easy-to-use format, and much easier than finding, downloading and printing recipes from their website. Lots of secrets and really useful tips for a Dad who's not quite up with dicing, julienne, stocks, fish or potatoes, too.
- The Real Food Companion, by Matthew Evans
The intention of The Real Food Companion is to help us know how our food is made and grown and instill the food philosophy of ideally being one degree separated from the source of your produce. In other words, if you can’t make it or grow it yourself, know the person who has.
It's full of good but simple recipes that make the most of quality ingredients, with lots of practical hints for a garden-loving Dad as well.
- Wine and Food, by Kate Lamont
At last a cookbook that solves the wine and food matching conundrum. Lamont's approach is to put the wine first, and then to guide your food selection around that special bottle or variety. Life's too short to waste good wines on bad food matches.
- Pizza modo mio, by John Lanzafame
Who said pizzas were humble? John Lanzafame is a world champion pizza maker and in this inspiring book he teaches us his philosophy of keeping it simple – "less is more" – the perfect pizza cookbook for a Dad who enjoys casual cooking and wants to move one step up from the barbecue.
- My Bread, by Jim Lahey
Introducing the revolutionary no-work, no-knead method producing bread that is everything mass-produced bread is not: rustic, rugged and flavourful. Jim Lahey brings the art of ancient breadmaking techniques to the modern home kitchen.
- Curry – Fragrant Dishes from India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia
Does Dad enjoy making curry? Help him expand his repertoire and spice knowledge with this curry-lover's delight. Full of helpful advice and tips (from mainly male chefs) for making the perfect spice mix and making a memorable curry along with a careful selection of mouth-watering recipes you will enjoy.
Curries are great for novice cooks – they are a lot easier then they look, very forgiving of mistakes, and are sure to impress!
Want more?
- The Produce Chef – a very Australian mix of wild and traditional.
- Produce to Platter – a celebration of food and wine found in Victoria's gourmet Mornington Peninsula. If Dad loves this region, he'll be sure to love this book.
- How to Catch Fish and Cook It. Yes we know this was published last year but if Dad wants to learn more about identifying and cooking his catch in interesting ways, or about what is sustainable for the next generation, this will be sure to please sea fishermen. He'll also have the perfect excuse for that new boat!
VisitVineyards.com Membership
If Dad loves wine or food travel, then why not treat him to a VisitVineyards.com Membership?
By becoming a Member of VisitVineyards.com, Dad (and Mum too) can experience the best wine and food experiences for a whole year – for example, tutored tastings, access to reserve wines, meeting winemakers – and lots more exclusive offers from restaurants, food makers and growers, shopping or ballooning, golf and spas.
The perfect gift for a wine or food loving Dad on the go, and one he can use as many times as he likes, year round.
Comes in a special gift card which we can either post to you or personalise for you and post direct to him.
Only A$49 for a whole year. Find out more about becoming a Member here »
Check out some of the great offers that he'll enjoy as a VisitVineyards.com Member here »
Maybe you'd also like to take Dad out to a vineyard event, a picnic, some music or to a winery restaurant? Check out the VisitVineyards.com calendar – so far there are nearly 70 events listed for Sunday 5th September, in all states and territories – have a look and see if there is one you and your Dad might enjoy (you can filter the calendar search by state).
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Australian Wine Vintages – founded by Robin Bradley, continued by Rob Geddes MW – is Australia's longest-running wine guide and is not only of interest to serious ... anyone with even a casual interest in wine »
Some people see raw materials and the possibilities; others (in this case John Lethlean), just buy something with a view to working out what to do with it later. A retail itch to be scratched »
James Halliday shares his extensive knowledge of wine via detailed tasting notes as well as details on wineries and information about winemakers. for all enthusiasts of Australian wine »
Released just in time for Fathers' Day. Finally Dads get what they've always wanted. No more socks and jocks, it's a book about beer »
Greg Duncan Powell has gone the hard yards with this one bringing you 174 beers from across Australia sniffed, sampled and scored - from boutique lovelies to mass-market brews »
A mother and daughter's love affair with the Mornington Peninsula inspires a coffee table book which offers a window into the people and places which make up one ... Australia's most renowned gourmet regions »
In 1788 the First Fleet carried grapevines to Australia, laying the foundation of the Australian wine industry. Now, 222 years later, the first book dedicated just ... Riesling in Australia has been published »
Pizza as fast food gets a bad wrap, but done well it's a highlight of Italian cuisine. John Lanzafame's book, Pizza Modo Mio, will take the pizza in your home to new culinary heights »
The third edition of The Big Red Wine Book 2010/11 hits the shelves for the start of the southern winter and this year it’s a ripper. Covering over 930 new releases ... to skim the cream from the red wine lake »
Whether you love or loathe the MasterChef TV series, there is no doubt that it is having a big impact on home cooking across Australia. It teaches us to cook better, ... plus the hard work of our food producers »
Put all your breadmaking ideas and methods on hold and give this a shot. My bread by Jim Lahey, founder of the famous Sullivan Street Bakery in New York, offers ... are endless for all of us bread lovers »
From Cape to Cairo, London to Lucknow, Jamaica to Jaipur, you'll find curry, and the ingredients to make your own. Curry - Fragrant Dishes from India, Thailand, ... mouth-watering curry recipes from Asia and beyond »
It’s not surprising that successful restaurateur, winemaker, Australian tourism authority and cookbook author Kate Lamont is the person to turn a recipe book on ... put the wine first, and then to guide your food selection »
If you’d like to get a taste for Australia's wild side as well as some more traditional fare in one cookbook, then try out the recipes in the The Produce Chef by rising star Matt Clark »
‘My wines are sexy. They make weak men strong and strong women weak.’ These words – of a true marketer, ahead of his time – were spoken in 1974 by Wolf Blass. modern Australian wine industry »
This is a unique book covering the catching, caring for and cooking of a wide variety of sea fish - fifty species in all, Australia-wide - and doing it well. how to catch fish and cook it »
Ever wondered if there's more to beer than pale lagers? Then join Willie Simpson on this armchair tour of a hundred Australian breweries, meet the brewers and discover ... flavour possibilities our beers »
Daring pairings by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein is a welcome arrival focussing purely on new or emerging grape varieties and matching them with recipes from thirty five of his favourite chefs »
Willie Simpson introduces us to over 100 of his favourite Australian breweries. You'll meet the brewers and discover the diverse flavour possibilities of our beers ... updated version of The Australian Beer Companion »
From the Gourmet Farmer himself, Matthew Evans, comes The Real Food Companion - a book that brings home facts and flavours into one condensed volume. It could change your life »
Visiting vineyards? You think you'll remember all those wines, but guess what? You probably won't. So we've created a wine tasting template to fill in easily, to keep track of all your favourite (and not so favourite) wines. 
in the cooler months, a drop of red warms your tastebuds and your soul, especially when it's fine red wine from Huntington Estate. Love wildlife as well as red wine? Help the Central Highlands Tasmania Wildlife Group support animals, starving after bushfires, through the colder months and you could win superb Tassie Milford Pinot Noir. 
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