Recently I was asked to review Stikky Wine, a book by Stikky. Have you ever heard of Stikky books? Neither had I! They are designed to teach you something and have it stick in an easy, fun, colorful way. Stikky Wine is exactly that. Whether you are a newcomer to wine or have some experience, this is a great book to have on hand. As the cover says, “Learn the six aroma families and three essential characteristics to enjoy great wine and talk like a pro – in just one hour.” At only $12, it is packed full of knowledge and would make a great stocking stuffer for that budding oenophile on your holiday gift list!
MY REVIEW
First off, this is such a cute, magenta/red wine colored book! It’s format is small and easy to flip through, colorful and a page-turner! Stikky Wine is a great introduction to wine appreciation which can be enjoyed by a complete novice to someone with extensive wine experience. Intimidated by wine? No longer. Just flip through this book, quickly learn and test yourself – and then practice with a real glass of wine! It doesn’t take long to learn about the aroma and palate profiles of the 6 major varietals and become your own mini expert on wine.It uses images and little quizes throughout to make the information stick.
The book is broken into two Sequences, with a stopping point at the end of each sequence to practice what you learned. It is followed by an Epilogue and Next Steps to keep your learning going.
Sequence One is an introduction to wine and how to assess your wine by color and aroma. The WHEFF approach teaches you to stop and think about what you’re actually smelling. Is there anything weird is there? Anything herbal or earthy? What fruits do you smell? Are there any floral aromas? Once you have mastered this technique, you can improve your ability to identify or guess the varietal before you even taste it! This should enhance my skills when we play Mystery Wine at home!
In Sequence Two, the techniques help you dive into the wine’s profile on your palate. It instructs you how to hold a sip of the wine in your mouth to experience the tannins, the acidity and the body, providing the details of what each of these is. Then it goes further to guide you on how to order wine in a restaurant – how to ask for the kind of wine you like within your budget – and when it is okay to send the bottle back.
HOW TO ORDER
You can order this book directly at Stikky here: Stikky Wine. I think I’m going to order a few copies right now!
© Decanting Monterey 2025
*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon
Recent Comments