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Wine by Kathleen Burk
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Wine

Narrator
Lucy Tregear
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Publish Date
13 October 2026
Run Time
17 hours
Format
Audiobook
$13.95

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What to expect

The riveting eight-thousand-year story of wine, nectar of the gods and the pleasure and support of man.

“Capaciously informative and endlessly entertaining.” -Tom Holland, author of Dominion

As far back as history can reach, wine has been intertwined with the growth and development of the human race. Over eight millennia, this remarkable drink has influenced cultures, built economies, healed men, and supported armies.

Ranging from the Late Stone Age to the present day, historian Kathleen Burk illuminates the rich history of wine. Beginning in Neolithic-era Georgia in the Caucasus, Burk methodically traces how wine has evolved over time and place as a religious, social, cultural, economic, and even culinary force—including the complicated relationship between Islam and alcohol, the rise and decline of France as the world’s wine superpower, and the rapidly growing importance of Asian countries in the world of wine. Through this, Burk weaves a comprehensive history not only of wine, but also of the peoples who produce and enjoy it.

Ambitious and engaging, Wine is essential reading for everyone who enjoys a glass, whether a devoted connoisseur or a curious dabbler.

Critics Review

  • “Wine is a thorough, globetrotting biography of the beverage that has inspired, intoxicated, and entranced us for more than eight millennia. From Chinese poets to Benjamin Franklin, The Odyssey to the Qur’an, Burk is a consummate guide to the many facets of wine’s personality and traces its evolution across time and place to explore its enduring appeal. A journey sure to enchant any oenophile.”—Bianca Bosker, New York Times–bestselling author of Cork Dork
  • “Capaciously informative and endlessly entertaining.”—Tom Holland, author of Dominion
  • “Erudite and intoxicating, Kathleen Burk’s globe-spanning journey through wine history reminds us how deeply every glass is rooted in humanity’s past.”—Tom Standage, author of A History of the World in 6 Glasses
  • "For oenophiles and novices alike…. A detailed, compendious history that’s rich in wine trivia... history and wine come together for a favorable blend.”—Kirkus Reviews

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Details

Author
Kathleen Burk
Narrator
Lucy Tregear
Duration
17 hours
Release Date
13 October 2026
ISBN
9781668658987
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Genre
General and world history, Wines, Cookery / food and drink, Social and cultural history, Food and beverage technology

Synopsis

The riveting eight-thousand-year story of wine, nectar of the gods and the pleasure and support of man.“Capaciously informative and endlessly entertaining.” -Tom Holland, author of Dominion As far back as history can reach, wine has been intertwined with the growth and development of the human race. Over eight millennia, this remarkable drink has influenced cultures, built economies, healed men, and supported armies. Ranging from the Late Stone Age to the present day, historian Kathleen Burk illuminates the rich history of wine. Beginning in Neolithic-era Georgia in the Caucasus, Burk methodically traces how wine has evolved over time and place as a religious, social, cultural, economic, and even culinary force—including the complicated relationship between Islam and alcohol, the rise and decline of France as the world’s wine superpower, and the rapidly growing importance of Asian countries in the world of wine. Through this, Burk weaves a comprehensive history not only of wine, but also of the peoples who produce and enjoy it. Ambitious and engaging, Wine is essential reading for everyone who enjoys a glass, whether a devoted connoisseur or a curious dabbler.

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