Wine Tips: Drink It All In

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Today is a special day. No, not Kevin Costner's birthday (he's 56 today). This is National Thesaurus Day, held in honor of Peter Mark Roget. Roget's Thesaurus, since it was first published in 1852, remains one of the most important reference books in the English language.

Rather than celebrate (synonyms: commemorate, observe) the birth of an actor (thespian, player, trouper), we thought it best to highlight (illuminate, play up, feature) some of the most important (consequential, meaningful, significant) wine books available that also happen to be as hefty (massive, weighty) as an actual Thesaurus.

The World Atlas of Wine: Now in its sixth edition, this 400-page guide by Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson highlights all the world's winegrowing regions and the important producers in each–from the mainstream to the obscure (how else do you think we learned about Transylvanian wine for The Daily Sip in October?).

The Wine Bible: Written by the Culinary Institute of America's Karen MacNeil, this 900-page book delivers everything you need to know about the different grapes, styles and regions. The book itself is heavy, but the subject matter is presented in a light, refreshing, approachable manner.

The World's Greatest Wine Estates: A Modern Perspective: What makes a wine estate truly great? Robert M. Parker Jr., publisher of the Wine Advocate, spends 704 very opinionated pages telling you. This is aspirational stuff, but a clear perspective on what certain wines' hype is all about.

Is there a big book that's been your invaluable guide to the world of wine? Tell us about it below.