Paul Strang`s new South West France book.

Book just arrived. 374 pages, good glossary, wine food pairings. Excellent pics as others have stated. Looks like a terrific research book.
Many of the wines in my cellar written up here. Extensive description of many wineries.
$37 Cdn from Amazon.

Bob, what does Strang include in "South West"?

AFAIK, there is no official definition and the wines often included under this regional description have little in common with each other, e.g. Bergerac (quasi Bordeaux) v. Madiran v. Cahors and so on. My French guides seem to draw the line as far east as between Gaillac and Cabardès, the latter being considered Languedoc even though the wines seem to sit neatly on the fence between Atlantica and Mediterranean influences in climate and grape varieties with both CabSauv and Syrah in the blend.

I think I may plant the seed in some ears about this as a Christmas pressie.

I've got the earlier book and refer to it all the time, living in South West France - nearly.

However, I have found some rather bad mistakes in it (don't ask, as I don't remember them). Let's hope he's corrected them. A sort of sister book is his wife Jeanne Strang's book on cooking here, called "Goose fat and Garlic". Should have been called "Duck Fat and Garlic" because fattened Geese are almost unknown nowadays. I've got that too!! Mind you... I've got a lot of books on french food.

Bob, what does Strang include in "South West"?

AFAIK, there is no official definition and the wines often included under this regional description have little in common with each other, e.g. Bergerac (quasi Bordeaux) v. Madiran v. Cahors and so on. My French guides seem to draw the line as far east as between Gaillac and Cabardès, the latter being considered Languedoc even though the wines seem to sit neatly on the fence between Atlantica and Mediterranean influences in climate and grape varieties with both CabSauv and Syrah in the blend.

I think I may plant the seed in some ears about this as a Christmas pressie.

Sure can grab the book from reader across the table!

Marcillac/Estaing/Cotes du Millau/Glanes/Correze.
Cahors and the Causses.
Gaillac.
Fronton and wines of Toulousain.
Dordogne Valley..Bergerac, Pecharmant etc.
Middle Garonne....Duras,Buzet, Brulhois etc.
Gascony.
Madiran and Pacherenc.
Bearn/Pyrenees.

I have to say I am really impressed, many of the suppliers I see here in AB are in the book. You, of course, will be a lot more familiar with many of the producers I think.

Tim, I have emailed you about the Cahors section. Lots of preliminary discussion, thoughtful too.

Is anyone here going to get a copy?

That's interesting. I have both his and his wife's original editions and have found them very useful, though as Ian says, beware of mistakes and never take anyone as gospel.

I'd be interested to know what improvements the second edition offers.