How-to Guides for New Tipplers

The holiday season tends to produce a glut of books on wine, and while all primers leave out the most important part—actual bottles—five new reads get a once-over by Eric Asimov in the New York Times.

• Andrew Jefford’s Wine Course, by Andrew Jefford: a "poetically inspirational" global tour of the wine world, complete with glossy photos—and occasionally overblown prose.

• How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine, by Jancis Robinson: The revised edition "is indeed about critical tasting, rather than pleasure drinking," but you'll walk away with skills that are sure to boost your enjoyment.

• Corkscrewed: Adventures in the New French Wine Country, by Robert V. Camuto: This book, which gets Asimov's highest marks, "inspires thirst and curiosity."

Click the link below for the entire list.