Wine’s Hidden Beauty will guide you through the inner evolution of grape juice into wine. You can see how it changes from simple geometric forms into greater complexity. A wine losing vitality is also expressed by its photomicrograph. Beyond the visual expressions of wine, we explore ideas such as does wine have a soul, what shapes our taste, and the role of wine in health.
Here you will discover hidden messages written in the visual language of wine and taste. Explore the diverse personalities of wine. Deepen your pleasure of wine. Next time you taste some wine new pictures or words may come to mind. Explore your imagination and perceptions of taste as you share a wonderful glass of wine with a friend.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Specifics: French flaps soft cover, full color gift book 133 pages, 100 color photographs, 10 x 10
Retail price US$ 160.00 No more wholesale prices. Very few copies left. You can only get an author-signed book here and please let Dr. Barrett know how you want the book inscribed.
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 long 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
MORE PRAISES from WINE BLOGGERS
Book Review:Wine’s Hidden Beautyby Sondra Barrett, PhD. Becca Yeamans,The Academic Wino
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: 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.
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 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. 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.
Tastes of Things Before My Eyes: The Beauty of Wine, Under A Microscope Joe Roberts 1WineDude
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 noticing an artistic quality in the brain chemical photos decided to try similar photographic techniques on molecular structures in nature.
Structures like wine.
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)…
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.
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.
What An Extraordinary Read With Unrivaled Visuals Jo Diaz
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.
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.