99 Bottles

A Black Sheep's Guide to Life-Changing Wines

By: André Hueston Mack

Narrated by: André Hueston Mack

Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

A highly opinionated wine guide from one of the country’s most celebrated - and unorthodox - sommeliers and winemakers

In this entertaining, informative, and thoroughly unconventional wine guide, award-winning sommelier, winemaker, and wine educator André Mack presents listeners with the 99 bottles that have most impacted his life. Instead of just pairing wines with foods, Mack pairs practical information with personal stories, offering up recommendations alongside reflections on being one of the only African-Americans to ever work at the top level of the American wine industry. The 99 bottles range from highly accessible commercial wines to the most rarefied Bordeaux on the wine list at The French Laundry, and each bottle offers listeners something to learn about wine. This window into Mack’s life combines a maverick’s perspective on the wine industry with an insider’s advice on navigating wine lists, purchasing wine, and drinking more diverse and interesting selections at home. 99 Bottles is a one-of-a-kind exploration of wine culture today from a true trailblazer.

©2019 André Hueston Mack and Rob DeBorde (P)2019 Abrams Image

Great guide to wine and life

I love the way Mack pairs wine with life. While this is a book about wine, it’s also about the journey of life, the experiences that wine can create and inspiration.

Cool guy, good story, bad as an audiobook

This guy is badass. I love what he’s doing and it’s a good book. But his narration is poor, his pronunciation and annunciation is weak, and some French words he said were just plain wrong; sweet wine is doux and it’s not pronounced ‘dwah’. I think this book must be better than the audio version.

Unique Story and Format

Great coming of age story from a black sheep sommelier. The author does a nice job sharing his life from a unique perspective. I enjoyed it all. My only quibble is that the author does mispronounce many words which, though endearing, should have been caught and corrected before publication.

My first audible book, outstanding!

Andre is a very calming and descriptive narrator. His tone and language brings you in deep, while making it feel as though you are having a normal conversation with him. I also learned so much about wine thanks to Andre and his explanations. I used to spend 30 minutes staring at dozens of wine options at the local store, and now have the fundamental knowledge needed to make a choice I’m sure I will like. I also appreciate Andres YouTube videos that dive in even deeper. Thank you Andre for being an inspiration to the little guys/gals, and allowing us to enter the world of wine comfortably and without pressure. This book was so great!

great audio book

andre made it easy to listen to. glad I bought it.i also follow him on Instagram and youtube

Genuinely enjoyed the book

I thought the information was good. Some mispronounced fairly common wine terms. But the story telling was good, loved that the first bottle was Old English. Could do without the reminder at the beginning of each chapter that the author is black and his struggles through racism. I purchased a wine book and not a book on politics. Also I don’t buy the story that tip was added to him because he is black and then the waiter actually applied for a job where he was the decision maker. Come on seriously you have better odds of winning the lottery. Sound like the author stole the story from the national news many years ago where the Thai Tony restaurant in Miami Beach where tip was added to black person. If you can get past the irrelevant pushing of social policy and political agendas the book is worth the investment. I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

#champagneeverydamnday

Loved the back stories per bottle and the more relatable tasting notes. Part 2 please!

Fantastic!

I loved this book.
Such a compelling autobiography interwoven with great insights into wine and the service industry itself, with behind the scenes stories in some of the world’s best restaurants. So nice to hear in his own voice.

99 problem but loving wine isn't 🍷 one 😁

I love the book thanks for for story's on how all 99 bottles it was connected with you and your story thank you.

Wine amazing adventure

What an amazing adventure and the descriptions of the wine experience, said so much. I really enjoyed from the beginning to the very end. Appreciate the author sharing his journey. By him reading the book, was wonderfully.