The 2004 edition of James Halliday's leading guide to Australian wines is bigger and better than ever. Exhaustively researched to keep the entries up to date and -informative, James Halliday's Wine Companion 2004 is the perfect gift for lovers of good wine and the finer things in life. Includes tastingnotes, vintage-specific star ratings, background information on particular wines, -advice on optimal drinking, and even suggestions for complementary food dishes. James Halliday is Australia's (and one of the world's) most respected wine connoisseurs, and his latest guide is a must-have for people planning to visit the wine growing regions of Australia or those who just want to replenish their wine cellar. James Halliday is an internationally respected wine critic and wine writer. In 1995, he received the Maurice O'Shea Award for his outstanding contribution to the Australian wine industry. Founder of Coldstream Hills in Australia's Yarra Valley, he regularly judges at wine shows around the world and is an unmatched authority on all aspects of the wine industry. ". . . when it comes to helping wine drinkers make sense of the now thousands of wines being produced . . . (Halliday) is in a class of his own."-Sunday Herald Sun "An annual 'must-have' for those racing to keep up with the hurly-burly of the Australian wine industry, and it's easy to see why."-The Age "Halliday brings a vast knowledge to the subject, so even a few words carry a weight unmatched by lesser mortals."-Gold