A new crop of wine books arrives on my doorstep every fall, just in time for holiday giving. Vintage 2003 saw a large number of such books, many of them updated versions of previous references.

But there were some new offerings for enophiles, too, notably "Wine for Women'' by Leslie Sbrocco (William Morrow, $24.95). I'll admit that the title put me off initially. Why is wine for women any different than wine for men? But Sbrocco points out that, according to industry research, women account for almost 64 percent of wine consumers. And she concluded that women approach wine differently: They're less concerned with scores, vintages and collecting and more interested in finding wines that simply taste good and pair well with food.

Fair enough. With all the wine books out there, everyone needs a niche.

The book goes on to approach wine from a style or fashion perspective -- Sbrocco calls chardonnay the "basic black'' of white wine, for example, and pinot noir the "seductive satin'' red. She explains how to read a wine label, particularly how "label links'' -- where the wine is from -- offer clues to how the wine will taste. An oversimplification, to be sure, but a good starting point. Sbrocco offers lists of recommended producers in all price ranges -- wineries that are consistent, year in and year out, so you don't have to worry so much about vintages. Finally, she has suggested menus, and even some recipes, to serve with various types of wines.

The book is packed with information that is useful for women or men, but its chatty, just-between-us-girls tone probably will appeal more to women. Still, anything that demystifies wine for either gender, as "Wine for Women'' does, is a welcome addition to the wine-book scene.

The shelves abound with pretty books about Napa and Sonoma, but if you're interested in the often-overlooked Santa Cruz Mountains, there's "Mountain Vines, Mountain Wines'' by Casey Young (Mountain Vines Publishing, $24.95). It's not strictly a visitors' guide -- the book includes information about wineries that can't be visited -- nor is it a critical evaluation of the region's wines. Rather, it's more a collection of short features about the various wineries. And considering some of the area's quirky vintners, such features can be quite entertaining..

Young also gives some good overview and historical information, as well as resources for visitors. The book is illustrated with lovely photographs by Ken Dawes. "Mountain Vines, Mountain Wines'' may be a little hard to find, but it's sold in some tasting rooms as well as online at www. mountainvinespub.com.

"Mon Docteur Le Vin'' (My Doctor, Wine), originally published in Paris in 1936, has been translated into English and published by the Henry McBride Foundation, which benefits young artists. The book is a humorous look at the pleasures of wine and its supposed healthful benefits. While most wine lovers would agree with "Mon Docteur'' that wine lifts the mood and improves morale, the book obviously shouldn't be taken as medical advice. Still, the text is entertaining, and the book is illustrated with charming watercolors by Raoul Dufy. "Mon Docteur Le Vin'' sells for $19.95, and proceeds benefit young artists and children's charities.

Noteworthy updates

The authoritative "World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine'' by Tom Stevenson (Wine Appreciation Guild, $55), first published in 1998, has been updated and expanded, with more wines and current vintage assessments. (Most wines, however, are described in more general terms -- after all, in Champagne, at least, most of the production isn't vintage-dated.) Information on the sparkling wines of some countries, such as Australia, has been expanded. And in the California section, some brands have been downplayed, while up-and-coming wineries are now highlighted.

I've mentioned this book in the past, but the updated version of Matt Kramer's "Making Sense of Wine'' (Running Press, $19.95) would make an excellent gift. The book both makes sense of wine and celebrates its many pleasures. The new edition includes a cautionary chapter about the homogenization of wine styles, the influence of a few powerful wine publications and increasingly interventionist winemaking.

"The New Wine Lover's Companion'' (Barron's, $14.95) is the second edition of one of my favorite compact reference books. The book by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst is like a huge glossary, with definitions and pronunciations for almost 4,000 wine-related terms, from abboccato (Italian for "lightly sweet'') to zucchero (coincidentally, Italian for "sugar''). Also included is an appendix covering such topics as wine styles, ordering wine in a restaurant and wine-tasting terms.

There are several pocket guides to wine that are updated every year. Hugh Johnson has one; Andrea Immer publishes a useful yearly buying guide. My preference is "Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide 2004'' (Harcourt, $14). Even in such a compact format, Clarke's wit and enthusiasm shine through. A great stocking stuffer for any wine lover.

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