Wine

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books that explore the unseen aspects of everyday objects. Wine traces the evolution of a simple, ancient beverage into a symbol of power, sophistication, and wealth. Once a humble drink of the masses, wine now commands prices reaching half a million dollars, with point systems and professionals guiding our understanding and appreciation. As both an agricultural product and cultural commodity, wine embodies ritual, addiction, pleasure, pain, and memory-transcending the confines of a single glass. Drawing from science, religion, literature, and memoir, Wine examines the intricate power dynamics entwined with its production and consumption. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic.