Holiday book gift guide

A few thoughts about books for the wine aficionado on your guest list (and you can never go wrong giving Kevin Zraly's Windows on the World Complete Wine Course):

• The Prohibition Hangover: Alcohol in America from Demon Run to Cult Cabernet (Rutgers University Press, $26.95.): Garrett's Peck overview of the history of drink in the United States goes a long way toward answering why we have such goofy liquor laws in this country. I don't know that he his look at Prohibition is rigorous enough (most studies say alcoholism actually increased), but if you want a place to start, this is as good as any.

• The Wine Trials 2010 (Fearless Critic Media, $14.95): This is the new edition of the book that fearlessly promises 150 quality wines for less than $15 -- and mostly delivers. Most importantly, the Winestream Media is less than thrilled with it. Full disclosure: I was a taster for the 2009 edition, but not this one.

• Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology (University of California Press, $34.95): Not for the faint of heart, which means anyone who believes in scores, subscribes to a Wine Magazine, or proudly tells all within earshot that they only drink cabernet -- and only certain cabernets at that. This collection of essays, parodies, and similar subversive writing from Bonny Doon winemaker Grahm is Mad Magazine for those of us who love wine.

wine gifts, wine writing, wine books, Prohibition Hangover, Wine Trials, Bonny Doon, Randall Grahm