Every wine lover has a shelf in their home dedicated to books that help them appreciate their favorite beverage just a little more.

Here are a few of those on my shelves, along with some personal observations — and they are very personal, so acquire those that appeal to you, and enjoy that glass of local wine even a little bit more.

“Why You Like the Wines You Like: Changing the Way the World Thinks about Wine”

by Tim Hanni

Tim has some huge credentials: He was one of the first Americans to be granted the coveted MW — Master of Wine — after his name. Based on some research with a Cornell colleague, Tim (who has family in Northeast Ohio) will help you to understand why some people like dry wines and others enjoy sweeter ones.

“Windows on the World Complete Wine Course”

by Kevin Zraly

This is an essential addition to anyone’s collection. Zraly taught an iconic wine appreciation course on top of the Twin Towers before 9/11. While there are no Ohio references, this book provides an exceptional overview of wine as a beverage of history, culture and community.

“Wine Wars”

by Mike Veseth

This book is for those interested in the history of the business by a world-famous economist who fell in love with wine a long time ago. Veseth is a great storyteller and this book gives some fascinating insights on why some regions have achieved great success with certain varietals. While he does not talk about Ohio in the book, he is a great friend of our industry and often mentions us in his well-respected blog.

“The World Atlas of Wine”

by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson

Very detailed and a bit ponderous, but this book is an excellent resource guide, especially for those aficionados who want to understand more about the great wines around the world.

“Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine”

by Madeline Puckett and Justin Hammack

This book is very visual and fun. It is great for the novice, but is detailed — and still fun — for the serious wine lover. Puckett and Hammack also publish a free newsletter on Thursdays. Go to Wine Folly to sign up.

“The Wine Bible”

by Karen MacNeil

This is another must have for the serious connoisseur.

Karen and her cohort are responsible for the Come Over October and Share and Pair Sundays international campaigns, which encourage wine to be included in family and friend gatherings.

Some other titles to consider include:

“Wine and War: The French, the Nazis and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure” by Donald Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup — A fun book to read as a history major.

“Wine: A Tasting Course: Every Class in a Glass” by Marnie Old — A fun, very visual and well organized book; a great gift for those with a bit of knowledge but want more.

“Summer in a Glass: The Coming of Age of Winemaking in the Finger Lakes” by Evan Dawson — A fascinating story about the winemakers who helped to take the region to the world stage written by a New York PBS commentator. This is a must read before a trip to the Finger Lakes next summer.

“Wine for Dummies” by Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan — Just what it purports to be, but a lot more.

Many of these books include little focus on our Ohio industry, but the more we learn about wine in general, the more we can appreciate all that the industry is producing in our place in the wine world.

Happy reading.

Email Donniella at dwinchell@OhioWines.org to talk all things wine.