In this stunning addition to the Assouline Ultimate Collection, Enrico Bernardo, the world’s best sommelier, imagines the perfect cellar filled with the most exceptional wines of the twentieth century: The Impossible Collection of Wine. Weighing the virtues of rarity, terroir, taste, and historical mystique, Bernardo’s is a list any connoisseur could only dream of. To turn grapes into bottled poetry, the winemaker must be a kind of alchemist. Despite changes in technology and tastes over the past 100 years, the craft has remained largely unchanged; a great wine remains the product of countless factors, not least of which is the smile of providence. In these pages, Bernardo celebrates the most exquisite vintages around the globe, from the 1928 Krug Champagne to the 1951 Penfolds Grange Bin 95 to the 1973 Stag’s Leap Estate SLV, inviting the reader on a journey through history to savor an impossible collection. This hand-bound oversize luxury edition, featuring hand-tipped images and presented in a wooden crate, will be a must-have for the library of any true wine connoisseur.

The non-uniform effect in the middle of the book can be attributed to the handcrafted nature of our Impossible Collection series

Complimentary white gloves and signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection

Enrico Bernardo made his name at the Four Seasons George V in Paris and was named Best Sommelier of the World in 2004. His two restaurants, the Michelin Star–holding Il Vino and Goust, focus on pairing the perfect wine with each dish—and the perfect dish with each wine. Bernardo consults for numerous restaurants, and cooperates with the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale to promote wine culture for a new generation. He is the author of five books, including How to Taste Wine (2006) and How to Pair Wine (2011).

Michael Broadbent, Master of Wine, is a wine critic, writer, and auctioneer. He served as the head of Christie’s wine department for thirty-two years and is the author of numerous books.

Assouline’s Ultimate Collection is an homage to the art of luxury bookmaking. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper, each page of this limited-edition series bears the unique imprint of the artisan. Treating a range of topics from jewelry and fashion, fine art and the ‘Impossible Collections,’ the Ultimate Collection curates culture from around the world and across the ages. Nestled in linen clamshell presentation cases, these books attract collectors, lovers of the printed page, and those who devour the culture of our time. Signaling a new level of sophistication for true connoisseurs, these unique books are works of art in their own right.

21 Wine Gifts That Are For Perfect For Sophisticated Hosts, Elle Decor, October 2017
L’Impossible Collection de Vins d’Enrico Bernardo, Gourmets and Co, November 2016
The $845 Wine Book that Dealers Can’t Keep in Stock, Bloomberg, November 2016
Cool Gift Ideas For Wine Lovers, Forbes, November 2016