Book + Bottle Pairings from Q2.2022
Our theme last quarter was Beauty in Hidden Places. A wonderful way to stay grounded through turbulent times is to find the beauty in the everyday, the gorgeous in the darkness, the alluring in the elusive. With this in mind, we’ve picked writers and novels that did just that; discovered within themselves and without the beauty needed to go on and live a life to the fullest, with intrigue, excitement, and sometimes, a little bit of murder clean up(!).
To Begin Again
Our first pairing was Ocean Vuong's illustrious and illuminating debut, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. The book is a letter, written by a son to a mother who will never and can never read it. It is an aching portrait of where the son has been and where he wants to go, what holds him back, and what can bring him forward. It’s a lifting and searing portrait of love, of hope, of the immigrant experience and the encapsulation of history in the present moment. How do you find beauty in those places in your past? How do you confront them and confront the people that you love so much who brought you to those places? Ocean Vuong asks and tries to answers those questions as only he can; gracefully, elegantly, poetically.
To accompany the poetic reverence of Vuong’s novel, we pair with a drinkable exemplar of beauty and elegance: chenin blanc. It's aromatic, versatile, and undeniably pretty, no matter the style. Aperture Cellars Chenin Blanc is a gorgeous example of this varietal from this father-son duo. Andy, a well-known photographer, spent many of his years capturing some of the most beautiful places in the world. During this time, he also explored and learned about the best wines and shared these experiences with his son, Jesse, who is now one of the most exciting and accomplished winemakers. Together, they not only make beautiful tasting wines, but the bottles are also a piece of art. Their Chenin Blanc comes from old vines grown in rich clay loam soil on California's North Coast. It's vibrant, delicate, and a beautiful accompaniment to Ocean Vuong's poetic reflections on family and how history defines the present.
Purchase this Pairing: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous $17 + Aperture Chenin Blanc $28 = $45 for Pairing
Cutting To The Truth
Our second pairing’s book is My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. A propulsive and pulse-pounding dark comedy about what we will do for our families, this deftly crafted modern day noir moves from deadpan ridiculousness (how does one move a body discreetly, anyway?) to attention grabbing themes on what is expected out of sisterhood. The writing is razor sharp and brilliantly assembled, and knows that by swimming in the delicious tropes of the slasher and sprinkling in the peppery jingle of original flair, that a beautiful thing can happen; a book you can’t put down.
To pair, we found a wine that is fun, ethereal, and genre-bending — all words that describe Les Lunes Astral Blend. In partnership with Populis, this blend of rosé, white, and red from Sonoma and Mendocino County makes this a category-less wine. With varietals such as Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, and three different methods of Zinfandel, this wine is unquestionably unique and playful. Though eccentric and lively, it doesn't mean you shouldn't take this wine seriously. Les Lunes wines are always 100% organic, and with minimal intervention in their cellars, their wines are still structured, elegant, and age-able. Enjoy this blend chilled for a refreshing, bright berry bomb.
Purchase this Pairing: My Sister, The Serial Killer $16 + Les Lunes Astral Blend $27 = $43 for the pairing
Dig A Little Deeper
Finally, for our Book Worms, we have a special delight with our third book, Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake, a book about what goes on underneath our feet, in the air, and everywhere in between; the insane world of fungi. When we think about fungus, we usually think about mushrooms, but those are only the flowering bodies, akin to apples on tree. This book dives deep into how fungi influence the natural world and will shift your idea on what it means to be human, throw into space our very idea of how intelligence is defined, and take you on a journey to truly find the beautiful in the microscopic.
Our pairing with this book is a low intervention, natural wine to celebrate cultivating health in our soils. Woman winemaker Kelley Fox is one of the most under-the-radar Oregon producers worth watching. Her love for wine and nature has led her into an extensive education and career: after completing a B.S. in Psychology, with a minor in Biology and degrees in Biochemistry and Biophysics, Kelley got into the Biochem Ph.D. program at Oregon State–yet never completed her doctorate. Instead, she made the decision to make wine, which she jumped into without formal training, learning on the job, working in the vineyards and cellars of the region. Kelley's skin-macerated Pinot Gris Rosé is a refreshing take on the varietal. Although technically an "orange" wine, not a rosé, it's more structured than a white and drinks similar to an Italian "Ramato," with notes of rose and strawberry. Biodynamically-farmed, de-stemmed, and foot-trodden by Kelley herself, this rosé is the perfect pairing for "Entangled Life," reminding us of the intricacies and expansiveness of nature.
Purchase this pairing: Entangled Life $18 + Kelley Fox Pinot Gris $30 = $48 for the pairing
P.S.
The beauty hidden behind this quarter's pairing is teamwork and sharing. My wonderful team mates, Kindall and Dominic, combined their strengths in wine and books respectively, to bring this quarter's selections and narrative to you. What a treat! You'll be hearing more from all three of us over the next few months.
Thank you, Kindall and Dominic, for the incredible picks!