‘Wine Rebel’ says stick a cork in it

Think of him as the anti-Robert Parker.

While Parker, one of the most influential wine critics in the world, might describe a wine as unctuous, smoky or savory – Craig Renaud, a tattooed North Idaho wine broker, is more likely to flash a thumbs up and say “wow,” “outstanding” or “unbelievable.”

Renaud challenges Parker and his now-famous 100-point rating system used in the Wine Advocate journal in a new book, “Great American Wine: The Wine Rebel’s Manual.”

“I’ve tasted thousands of wines, but have never tasted underbrush, gravel, stones or many of Parker’s other descriptions, in any wine. I basically haven’t recognized many of the elements Parker seems to detect in wine. It appears much of what he verbally passes as his wine expertise is simply nonsense,” Renaud says in the first chapter.

He even imagines where Parker and other “pompus wine critics” get the words they use to review wines. Let’s just say the illustration shows the verbiage he finds offensive spilling from the business end of a longhorn.

It’s that kind of irreverence that Renaud brings to “Great American Wine.”

The wide-ranging guide, published in Spokane by Tony and Suzanne Bamonte, covers everything from a wine buyer’s patriotic duty to support the American wine industry to wine and religion in a chapter called, “How to Drink Wine and Still Go to Heaven.”

He introduces wine etiquette by spoofing a North Idaho wine tasting with pictures of shirtless, beer-bellied men drinking wine in the woods. And he even pokes fun at himself with photos of a wine tasting at his home where guests are each chugging wines from their own bottle.

Renaud, 47, moved with his wife and three children to the Post Falls area almost 10 years ago. He grew up in Santa Rosa, Calif., in the heart of Sonoma County wine country, where he stared his wine brokerage business 18 years ago. He specializes in California wines, although he says he’s learning more about Washington vintages because he’s consulting for some area businesses and restaurants.

He says he was inspired to write the book because he had never come across a wine guide that covered common sense issues people really want to know about wine. Renaud says he tried to pack everything he could think of into the book and readers have found it humorous, informative and engaging.

He personally steers clear of wine reviewing and descriptions, unless it is just to give a general overall impression. “I dare not go there. Everybody’s taste buds are different,” he says. He points to 18 years of repeat customers for his wine brokerage business in lieu of more formal credentials.

Renaud’s says his priorities in life are God, family, wine, his Harley Davidson (a 2003 Road Glide) and poker.

“Great American Wine” is available at Auntie’s bookstore or online at www.winerebel.net. It sells for $24.95.