Full reviews of “Provence – Vita, röda och även roséviner” are found below.
“Many may not know that a lot of white and red wines are produced in the world’s most famous rosé wine region, in southern French Provence. Göran Boman, a member of the Munskänkarna and with many years of experience and extensive knowledge, has written the book “Provence – Vita, röda och även roséviner”.
The book explains most of what an interested wine tourist can think about. Questions that are answered are how to make rosé wine, why rosé wine has different depths of colour and which the usual grapes in Provence are for white, red, or rosé. Or how the white and red wines are supposed to taste – the character of the wines – or more about Provence in a historical perspective focusing on wine. You can read about climate, soil, vineyards and about the districts, the so-called appellations.
Göran Boman presents and recommends 43 producers and has tried over 200 wines listed under their respective wine districts. We think that the wines have a price indication are positive (as long as the information is fresh) and we also appreciate the map images as well as the personal, nice photos of the winemakers in their environment.
The book on the wines of Provence is complete, explanatory, and interesting and written by a knowledgeable author in an inviting way. Possibly the language is not the easiest, professional word, for those who are not able to wine but fortunately almost always follows an explanation.
We like the size, A5 size and that the cover is soft which makes the book fits well in the backpack or smoothly hangs when on the jump between vineyards and mountains.
“Provence – Vita, röda och även roséviner” is a book you cannot or will not miss if you are interested in wine and should visit Provence.
Rating: 5“
Elke Jung, Vinbanken
“Provence — already the name is enticing. Many Swedes come here for both visits and accommodation, not least Swedish munskänkar. Suitable then that there is now a book that presents the wine-growing Provence. The basis of the book is the author’s three-grade essay within Munskänkarna. This makes you understand that this is a fact-packed book. Still, it is not heavy to read, on the contrary. The text flows well whether it deals with history, geology, grape varieties, viticulture and vinification and other technicalities.
Then follows a review of Provence’s all appellations with descriptive text, a fact box and – and good for us who want to keep track of the geography – a small map showing where in Provence we are mentally located. Here I must admit that some of the appellations I mostly know only by name and then the book becomes like a real textbook.
For each appellation, the author also presents one or more producers and their wines in a personal selection. The book is illustrated with many but small photos. A larger format had made several of them better justice. But that is a whine in the margin. However, it is best to experience Provence on the spot. With Göran’s book as a guide.“
Ulf Jansson, Editor of the magazine Munskänken
“This is definitely not for anyone who pretends to be interested, or who wants to boast a book on the shelf in the kitchen or on the coffee table, this book goes all in. Details, figures, bedrock, grapes, climate zones … everything is dealt with and with that in mind as well as the fact that an expert in the subject of Provence wine as well as you know who is being interviewed means that “Provence – Vita, röda och även roséviner” must be classified as a Swedish reference work*) over the Provencal wine world.
*) Many wineries are presented among all the significantly more important facts, but maybe someone still thinks “why is not that winery included or that …” Well, it will be another book if all the producers should be included and for my own part I do not miss the total list just because it should be included, however, gives stubborn rumours at hand that Göran Boman may be on his way into his black hole again and that he does not intend to come back until he has that more complete producer list with him.“
Lars Torstenson, winemaker at Domaine Rabiega in Provence
“The title seems straightforward but can actually be interpreted in two ways: Either the author is ironic considering that almost 90% of the wines in Provence are rosé wines. Or he really wants to emphasize that the book is not just about rosé wine. It is otherwise easy to happen if you write a book about the wines of Provence.
The author does not hide that he is fond of the red wines – and the whites – and gladly sees that they are getting more attention. The fact that only 7% in Provence are red wines today is disappointing. Most preferably when reading the book’s detailed descriptions of soil and climate. The conditions for producing high-quality red wines are great, as many producers have proven and are still proving. The good terroir feels a bit wasted on all these rosé wines.
But Provence still deserves the attention it receives through this book. It is a fairly complete review of the region’s wines. It can be used as a reference book or, if you are visiting down there, as a starting point for planning wine visits. Some 40 vineyards are described in detail. Some are well known and famous, others less well known. Test comments are also included.
Much of the book is about Provence as a region and as a wine district. The author describes the appellations, both the new ones, the ones that are going on and the old ones. He takes up the region’s obscure cru classé classification. The soil and climate are described in detail. The various grape varieties are all given a brief description as well as the production technology for red, white, and rosé wines. In short, here are the most that may be of interest to the Provence enthusiast. It is not a book just for the rosé fan.
The book is packed with facts and, with its detail, it is mainly aimed at the enlightened consumer, who is already a little familiar with the various mysteries of the wine. In fact, the book is an expanded version of a so-called three-grade essay in Munskänkarna. Göran Boman has been Munskänk for more than 20 years.“
Britt Karlsson, BKWine
