Alex Maltman is emeritus professor of Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University in Wales. He has researched and lectured on vineyard geology on four continents and is a seasoned speaker at international conferences. He has contributed to a number of wine books, including The World Atlas of Wine and The Oxford Companion to Wine, for which he is responsible for the geological entries. Alex is the author of the acclaimed book Vineyards, Rocks and Soils: A Wine Lover’s Guide to Geology (Oxford University Press, 2018).

'Whether at the beginning of your wine journey, or well versed in this endless subject, it’s a highly recommend addition to your library.'
Paul Caputo, Forbes

'Maltman is clearly interested in many things about this world – not just wine and rocks – so his narrative is interwoven with anecdotes of etymology, history, culture and architecture. I learned almost as much about the origin of words in this book on vineyard geology as I did when I read Melvyn Bragg’s (wonderful) book, The Adventures of English.'
Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com

‘Alex Maltman offers ironclad science in velvety prose to challenge the rampant notion that it is possible to taste the rocks beneath the vineyard from which a given wine hails.’
Neal D. Hulkower, The World of Fine Wine

‘Rocks and soils haunt our thinking about wine. We see links, sniff origins, taste connections, digest differences. Is this cause and effect – or fantasy? Alex Maltman is ghostbuster-in-chief. This wide-ranging and clearly reasoned book shines a torch through cobwebs.’
Andrew Jefford

‘Alex Maltman has the true teacher’s gift of explaining complicated things in ways that non-specialists can understand. He’s a stimulating and very knowledgeable writer who has made me think deeply about terroir and its influence on wine styles. I’m grateful for his insights.’
Tim Atkin MW

‘Controversial and challenging in places, Alex Maltman’s book resists easy answers. It provides an exceptional overview of the geology of different regions, from the fault lines of California to the volcanic tuff of Etna, while wandering through fascinating snippets of history. Along the way he takes on any number of sacred cows, from the impact of vine age on taste, the concept of minerality, and the link between geology, microbiology, mesoclimate and the construction of terroir. A fascinating book to deepen your understanding and provoke discussion.’
Jane Anson

‘Maltman’s work is thought-provoking, to say the least, and surprisingly readable – even for me . . . It's such a good read’
Sophie Thorpe, Decanter

‘I was gripped.’
Neil Sowerby

‘So accessible, so thoughtfully and generously illustrated, it would make a great festive season gift.’
Michael Fridjhon, Business Day