I always approach the Wandering Palate ‘Wine Book of the Year’ with trepidation, partly because wine books can be rather dull for the average reader or even wine consumer, notwithstanding the fact that research-style works are indeed useful. At the same time I think of the painstaking work and inordinate amount of time and effort that the author or authors have undertaken in accomplishing such a tome. And yet publishing is a tough business and readers are merciless, with many titles undeservedly ending up in the bargain bins before their time.