My kind of wine - John Platter (First edition)

John Platter is back! The man who launched South Africa's first wine guide in 1979, helping aspiring enthusiasts and average wine drinkers to understand, enjoy and explore the world of wine with greater confidence, emerges from retirement with this, another ground-breaking book. A report from the frontline of the 21st century South African wine revolution. Never in modern times have Cape wines created so much global excitement. Our young winemakers have never been hotter; our old masters have risen to the challenge. It's a story, and these are wines, which John Platter could not resist. His "brimming enthusiasm" (said the world's best-selling wine author Hugh Johnson) and "controversial and witty" take on wine affairs (The New York Times) ripple through these pages. This is a very different, very personal sort of wine book, written in Platter's signature, approachable style.

• Wines: From many hundreds tasted by Platter, more than 250 picks and why

• People: New stars, old masters, their stories

• Places: From Piekenierskloof to Philadelphia, Darling to Malgas, Skurfberg to Simonsberg: from the far West to the deep South

• Food: Recipes from wine country chefs and winemaking cooks

About the Author: John Platter was born in Hungary and grew up in Italy and Kenya. A former foreign correspondent, covering events in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, he wrote his first wine column for the Rand Daily Mail. He came to South Africa as bureau chief for United Press International and remained to found the country's best-selling wine guide with his wife Erica, before selling it to embark on the international award-winning Africa Uncorked. He grew and made wine in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.