Burgundy gets interactive

A new electronic version of Jasper Morris MW’s book Inside Burgundy is promising a more flexible, interactive reference resource for the region.

In its first eBook release, Berry Brothers & Rudd Press is offering Inside Burgundy: Côte de Beaune as the initial part of a serialised version of Morris’ comprehensive guide, which was originally published in hardback in 2010.

In addition to allowing users to zoom in on the original’s maps and photographs, the e-book format features videos of Morris walking through the vineyards and explaining key factors that determine quality. There is also the facility for readers to highlight text to store their own tasting notes.

Available for the iPad and iPad mini from the Apple bookstore, Côte de Beaune is priced at £14.99 and, as well as being updated from the first edition, comes with a free version of the 170-page Inside Burgundy: The Annual Report 2012/13.

This report includes early news on the 2012 growing season as well as detailed assessments from 2011 to the 19^th century with progress reports on more recent vintages.

“I hope this book will transmit my enthusiasm for all the fine wines of the region and encourage readers to explore more widely”, said Morris. “But now reading it becomes a two-way process. If you open a bottle of Burgundy, or go to a tasting, if you visit the vineyards, you can add your own notes and impressions, memories and experiences to mine.”

Explaining the decision to launch an eBook version of the original, Berry Bros. chairman, Simon Berry, said: “When Berry Bros. & Rudd Press published Jasper’s Inside Burgundy, we already realised that the old-tech elegance of the 656-page volume might be complemented by the new-tech world of eBooks. For one thing, two kilos is a little unwieldy if you’re visiting the vineyards…”

Following the launch of this first e-book, Berry Bros. is now preparing Inside Burgundy: Côte de Nuits for release in Spring 2013. Other volumes likely to follow will cover Chablis, Mâconnais, the Côte Chalonnaise and Beaujolais. Inside Burgundy: The Annual Report will be released in e-book format every Autumn.