Notes from the Wine Cellar

English philologist and literary critic George Saintsbury (1845–1933) became famous for his book on alcoholic drinks. Notes from a Wine Cellar (1920) is a description of the collection he collected and an encyclopedia of alcohol available in Great Britain in the second half of the 19th century. Saintsbury provides a detailed account of the advantages and disadvantages, drinking traditions, and preparation and storage features of sherry and Madeira, port and whiskey, claret and champagne, Burgundy, Rhine and Moselle wines, ciders, beer, etc. As a true gourmet and literary scholar, Saintsbury not only compares drinks with each other, but also cites references to them in world literature. According to the author, a love of good books and a passion for good wine complement each other and are qualities that distinguish a true gentleman.