Wine’s Hidden Beauty Reviews


What people are saying about the book -

from The Academic Wino~Becca Yeamans

A little about the author:
Sondra Barrett received her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois Medical School, and then later pursued and finished her post-doctoral training at the University of California Medical School.  Barrett started off her professional career as a research scientist looking through the microscope trying to find cures for leukemia.  Throughout her years at the microscope, she perfected the art of molecular imagery.  Tired of being continually surrounded by pain and sadness, Barrett desired to give back to the children she studied by showing them beautiful images to them for hope and entertainment.
This love for both science and art eventually evolved into her fascination with photographing the molecular make-up of wine.  Noting that the pictures she created reminded her of her tasting experiences; Barrett showed her works to winemakers that sparked such an interest that she became the resident artist at Sterling Vineyards in 1984.  Hundreds or more of molecular photographs of wine were born over the years, further evolving her career into one that married all of her loves that coalesced into the field of psychoneuroimmunology, which is a body and mind sort of medicinal approach.

About the book:

Now, I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but without even opening up to the first page, I knew it was going to be awesome!  I’m sure you are all aware of, due to the sheer nature of this blog: I’m somewhat of a nerd, so seeing a magnified image of the molecules of wine, in full color and all its “butterfly glory” made my heart skip with excitement.  The book is loaded with big, beautiful photographs of all types of wine (old, young, red, wine, etc) that leave you stopping to try and “taste” the wine pictures with your minds’ palate.

The book is divided into 8 different chapters, nearly all of which flow together in a harmonious fashion.  In the first chapter, Barrett breaks it down and tells all why she put together this book, and what she hopes the reader will take from it.  The second chapter describes the early histor of grapes and wine, and then gracefully illustrates the tight analogies between the life and death of wine and the life and death of living beings, all the while supplementing the words with beautiful photographs. The third chapter gets into the nitty-gritty of taste, as well as the viticultural and enological timeline of grape growing and winemaking.  Toward the end of the chapter, the topic evolves into shaping the language of taste, and does a nice job marrying taste and the images that are created under the microscope.  The fourth chapter introduces many of the wine legends in the industry, and ties it all into what makes your own life legendary.

The fifth chapter introduces the concept of cultivation for well-being, and discusses organic and biodynamic viticulture in California vineyards.  Barrett ties in this concept with the effects of wine on human health, which further evolves into the relationship between not only wine and physical health, but wine with romantic and emotional health.  She ends the chapter reminding the reader that one of the major functions of wine is to cultivate healthy relationships, be it with each other or with the environment.  The final three chapters; “The Spirit of the Grape”, “The Soul of Wine”, and “Savoring Life” tie up the book wonderfully, exploring how the grape and wine are alive and evolving, and how our experiences with them allow us to become more in tune with our own spirit, as well as strengthen the relationships we have with others.

In a way, this book was almost just as much a journey through the personal evolution of Sondra Barrett as is was about the science and romance of wine.  Throughout the book, I frequently found myself reflecting on my own thoughts and my own experiences, and how wine has transformed the relationships in my life (to humans, animals, and nature itself).  The book almost had me in a state of bliss while reading it, which I think is partially owed to the mystical experiences one receives through wine.  I also found myself wanting to drink wine as I turned through the pages!
This book is great for both the wine expert and the wine novice, and provides a great many photographs of incredibly beautiful images of the molecular structures of wine.  It’s a book that won’t take you long to read and looks wonderful on the coffee table as a piece of entertainment for your guests.
I highly recommend this book, Wine’s Hidden Beauty, and encourage every wine lover to pick it up and give it a read.

To purchase the book, you may find it here on the Amazon website: Wine’s Hidden Beauty. You may also purchase the book directly from Sondra Barrett’s website at this link.

I’ll leave you with one of my many favorite quotes from the book:
“The grape fulfills her promise to help us humans’ open to happiness and a deeper connection with all living things.  Her spirited life engages ours.  The spirit of the grape shows life in microcosm and macrocosm.  When we peek into the inner life of this spirited potion we see the story of life.
Remember she is here to make us happy.”
A big “thank you” goes out to Sondra Barrett for sending me a copy of this book to read and to cherish.  You may read more about Sondra Barrett by visiting her website here.

As a winemaker for more than 50 years, I’ve always felt that making wine is much like raising children: You have to love and guide them and transmit to them the richness of your spirit. Now . . .“Wine’s Hidden Beauty” presents dramatic proof of what I’ve longed believed, but could only feel: wine has a secret life and inner beauty that transcends its chemical components. Dr. Barrett’s portraits of wine are a wonderful addition to our understanding of the art, science and spirit of wine making.

Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, winemaker/founder Grgich Hills Estate

Unique books on the subject of wine are a rare find these days. This is certainly one of them. For those who enjoy drinking wine, and relish the art and science behind its magic, Sondra Barrett has taken us to another level.

Whether for its insight into the history and culture of the grape, and its evolution into the lifestyle of the world’s great cultures, or for its penetrating view into the visually stunning molecular world within, “Wine’s Hidden Beauty” is a journey into wine that you will thoroughly enjoy. Twenty years in the making, the book’s vintage is about right.

–Ron Scharman, Wine Traveler, eWinery Solutions

An educational, fun, incredibly beautiful piece of work; Barrett openly shares the art, soul, and life pleasures of wine.

- Jim Fetzer, Owner/President of Ceago Vinegarden, former Pres. Fetzer Vyds

The Most “Unusual” Wine Book Ever Produced – Astonishing, December 28, 2010 By  Gerard D. Launay.  This review is from: Wine’s Hidden Beauty (Paperback) on AMAZON.

As a student of geology, it was routine for me to study rocks through a “polarizing microscope”;the thin slides of minerals created a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colorful images. I never thought of viewing tiny drops of wine through the microscope….but obviously Sondra Barrett did. What a revelation. The drops are transformed into gorgeous patterns like butterflies, hearts, peacocks, and tropical rain forests.

But this book is more than just a collection of photos that puts a new spin on wine. It is also a love letter to wine itself – and to its life giving properties. {It is no accident that the Greeks and Romans honored a God that represented wine – Dionysus – a god of transformation and desire) My favorite quote in the book is a discussion of Pasteur – “He showed that fermentation was due to life, thereby confirming an instinctive and almost universal belief that wine was not a mere chemical concoction, but a mysterious living organism, divinely appointed as the symbol of life.”

Many of my friends are drinkers of lovely wine….this book could be a sensational gift to these friends and others who think they know everything about it! Highly recommended

What An Extraordinary Read With Unrivaled Visuals

JO DIAZ Wine Blog

Wine’s Hidden Beauty

by Sondra Barrett, PhD, is a walk in the wilds of a microscope. Sondra delivers the heart and soul of wine like we’ve never experienced it before… Or have we? Have we journeyed to the life that exists within a bottle of wine intuitively before, but just not recognized it in our conscious minds?

Amid the splendor of the visuals of this book, you’re also going to do a bit of soul searching… At least, I did.

Andre Tchelistcheff said to Sondra about her images, “They are the jewels in wine. Put them on silk scarves.” (I agree.)

Sondra thinks of wine as a nurturing community as she travels through molecular structures and the inner magnificence of wine. For instance, she’s discovered that wine’s molecular shapes grow larger as they age, and lose vitality and form as they decline in age. Her microcosmic images are a replication of our own life forms; and yet, her world is not one that we would readily recognize, not without her expertise.

This is why her surreal world, one that conjures up Rorschach moments that she welcomes… Nay, encourages… is a place to go, a book to read with all of one’s senses… Probably with a good glass of wine while curled up in a hammock.

It’s a world unto itself, with the book in the making since the early 1980s. This contribution to our lives is an enrichment, for anyone willing to just slow down for a moment and let the images and her words of enlightenment just take us away.

My cousin Margo (living in Maine) introduced me to Sondra, after having seen an image of wine as viewed under the lens of a microscope. Margo was amazed, and I was intrigued. When I researched Sondra, because I was asking permission to use that image on my wine blog, I discovered that she lives less than 15 miles from me.

Sondra was extremely gracious, and that made me want to know more about her, and the book she was working on called, “Wine’s Hidden Beauty.”

At first for me, my eyes were dazzled by her images. I’m a firm believer that a picture is worth a thousand words, and her images of wine as art captured my imagination.

Now that I’ve finished reading her book, I’ve come to realize that her words have also captured my soul.

I was raised as a Catholic, which I abandoned in my early 20s. I then became enraptured in Tibetan Buddhism. This was during the time of the Beatles and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. I got to be with the Maharishi in Poland Springs, Maine, while he was visiting. Something miraculous happened in that transition… I realized that all religions preach the same doctrine of the Golden Rule. Each is credible, so long as the doctrines of the Golden Rule are being followed.

I have a some very deeply spiritual people in my life, and with these people I can have rich conversations. Worth noting is Jose – my husband, the Reverend Dr. John Staten, proprietor of Field Stone Winery, and now Sondra…

Her thoughts are well written in her book… As she searched for Wine’s Hidden Beauty, the soul of wine was reflected back to her. With those revelations, she was able to capture the essence of wine’s being, and parallel that to humankind’s own life cycle.

  • Her words are exploring  ~ “How like the grape are we?”
  • Her concepts will challenge your way of thinking about wine ~ “Tasting Shapes”
  • Her revelations explore the essence of life  ~ Organic wines have the microscopic structure of a heart… is that a coincidence?

This is one book that I highly recommend to people who love wine, love art, and marvel at life.

Tastes of Things Before My Eyes: The Beauty of Wine, Under A Microscope

JOE ROBERTS 1 Wine Dude

Just when you thought that wine has been analyzed form pretty much every angle possible, along comes Philadelphia native, biochemist PhD and former medical research scientist Sondra Barrett.

Sondra’s journey to wine seems spiraling and circuitous: Originally a researcher on human leukemias, she was asked to photograph a patient’s leukemia cells, which lead to her presenting slide shows of normal and abnormal cell comparisons at oncology clinics.  After attending a photographic exhibit of chemicals of the brain, Sondra saw parallels in her leukemia work and, noticing an artistic quality in the brain chemical photos, decided to try similar photographic techniques on molecular structures in nature.

Structures like wine.

Sondra is now the author of a recently released collection of those photographs, titled Wine’s Hidden Beauty.

And the images in this book (Sondra sent me a review copy) are, simply put, extraordinary.

According to Sondra:

“My first discovery was at Sterling Vineyards when I was artist-in-residence documenting winemaking from the inside out. The winemakers gave me barrel samples and wines from all over Napa Valley. This extraordinary experience led me to uncovering distinct patterns and beauty in a glass of wine. Early on, a Napa grape grower, Rachel Balyeat, provided some financial support for me to delve further into the life of wine. She hosted a special dinner with acclaimed wine maestro André Tchelistcheff to discuss what these pictures could mean. Andréʼs first reaction – ‘They are the jewels in wine. Put them on silk scarves.’”

I think Andre was on to something (though I don’t wear silk scarves so I’ll stick to admiring the photos in printed form)…

If you’re a geek, like me, the first thing you want to know is how these pictures were taken and exactly what the hell they are are pictures of in Wine’s Hidden Beauty – again, according to Sondra:

“The pictures you will see are taken through a 35 mm camera atop an interference light microscope. Interference microscopy breaks white light into its rainbow of colors. In other words, I “paint” what I see with this light. Many of the pure chemicals and patterns in wine would be transparent were it not for the interference prisms on the microscope.”

In other words, we can’t normally see these molecular structures in wine even under standard microscopic examination.  They are hidden.  And they are beautiful.

One of the most interesting aspects about Wine’s Hidden Beauty is the repetition of patterns that Sondra has unearthed in those hidden molecules, where excellent older vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon take on similar complex forms, sharp edges define crisp, refreshing white wines, and even malolactic fermentation shows a telling pattern.

In other words, Sondra’s book might just be revealing the “shapes” of taste.

I found the prose of Wine’s Hidden Beauty to be enlightening, but nearly as circuitous as Sondra’s journey to wine itself – at times it’s sprawling and confusing, and you get the sense that you’re galloping just to keep up with hr on the tangential journey of her thoughts.  But there’s no denying that her molecular photographs are gems, and the book is stunning simply on that facet alone; it’s the kind of book that you don’t even need to read to have it change your perspective, and a rare case in which the cover (Which features a photo of Muscato Azul) does indeed accurately judge the contents.

If you find yourself saying “WOW” at the cover, then this book is well worth your time.