On Sept. 1, Tryon authors Ford and Mara Smith published an update of their popular wine compendium,

“Winning Wines: Medal Winners for $12 or Less.”
The 2011-2012 edition contains 723 wines from the results of the major wine competitions which perform blind taste tastings. To qualify for this book, each wine must have medaled in more than one of these reliable competitions. Consequently, “Winning Wines” lists the best-tasting wines at the best prices.
To kick off book sales, the Smith’s will appear at Tryon’s La Bouteille on Friday evening, Sept.16. They will pour selected wines from their lists as well as sign copies. The “Wine & Sign” will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m., just in time for the Summer Tracks concert at Rogers Park.
For more information on the Smiths’ wine lists, check out their website, www.winningwines. com. There are lists such as “The Best Bang for the Buck” and “All Wines Scoring 90+ Point Wines No Matter What Their Price.”  There is also a consistency indicator to help find a reliable choice, if the tested vintage is not on the shelf. There are aids to determine the sweetness/dryness level of various types of wines.
Join La Bouteille owner Shelly Block and authors Mara and Ford Smith at the 10 N. Trade St. on Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. The event is free.
– article submitted by Mara Ford