May 2015 Reading & Tasting

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Book

This month, we're going for a book that seems a little out there, but I'm into it. It's called The Blondes by Emily Schultz, and get ready for this, it's about an epidemic of a rabies-like disease that's carried by blonde women, all of whom go to great lengths to conceal their blondness. Yep.

Wine

We'll pair that with Verdejo, a Spanish white that's full bodied, crisp, and a little nutty. Makes sense, right? It goes really well with tapas, I might add. Maybe we should make that happen. 

April 2015 Reading & Tasting

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Book

I decided to go with Ruby, by Cynthia Bond. I think Oprah's book club actually read it, but obvi Oprah's club has nothing on ours (and ours probably has much more wine). It's about a girl named Ruby Bell from a small Texas town where she is horribly treated, who ends up moving to NYC in search of her mother who abandoned her. This is Cynthia Bond's first novel, 

Wine

As for wine, we'll be drinking our first wine repeat, Rose, simply because it's spring and it's all I want to drink right now. When buying Rose, you can't go wrong with anything from Provence (actually,anything from Provence ever is probably a good choice). I prefer Roses that are lighter in color. They tend to be crisper and less sugary than those dark Roses. It also holds a special place in my heart because it's pretty much all I drank for two straight weeks on my honeymoon in Southern France. 

March 2015 Reading & Tasting

Book

We're reading The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. It's a chiller-thriller, and it's rumored to be very Gone Girl-esque. 

Wine

As for wine, it's bound to be freezing for all of eternity, so let's drink from a warmer climate-- Argentinian wine. Because warmer climates allow for the grapes to ripen, it's more likely that the wines will be richer and fruitier with less acidity. And surprisingly, Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world.

February 2015 Reading & Tasting

Book

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is getting great reviews, about two young lovers who leave military-ruled Nigeria for the West, one in America and one in London, and how they eventually reunite in their newly democratic nation. 

Wine

To drink, I'm going with Zinfandel (not to be confused with the nasty pink stuff White Zinfandel). It's super drinkable, medium-bodied, usually with notes of raspberry, cherry, chocolate or coffee. I like that it's fruity, but not to sweet, with some tannic properties to balance it out. Zinfandel is also known as Primitivo, in case you see that in the wine shop. 

January 2015 Reading & Tasting

Book

To start off 2015, I've selected an interesting story I just started reading called Us by David Nicholls. It's a funny novel about how relationships change and also fall apart (uplifting, I know), it's set in Europe and spotlights a British couple. 

Wine

To drink, instead of choosing a wine variety, I'm going with another region-- Cotes du Rhone in France. My rule of thumb for buying wine in a wine store that doesn't have the best selection is, when in doubt, go for Cotes du Rhone. Even the cheaper bottles are usually pretty good; I assume it's because they've been making wine for-ev-er and have it down pat. 

December 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

Because Lena Dunham's book was such a great discussion, I decided to go for a memoir-esque book that I think would be a great compare/contrast (although they are very different people with very different stories). Amy Poehler's Yes Please is her super funny account of her life thus far from growing up in Massachusetts, to her start in comedy, and days on Saturday Night Live. 

Wine

Wine time. Last December, we focused on Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine that's fabulous for celebrating. I'd like to keep the celebration going for this holiday season, but this time, let's do Prosecco. It's an Italian sparkling white wine, and is usually very dry. I think it's interesting that unlike Champagne, Prosecco doesn't ferment in the bottle, and it can get stale over time. That means it should be drunk as young as possible-- within 3 years of its vintage. So don't worry about finding something "aged" when buying Prosecco.

November 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

The Cuckoo's Calling by the infamous J.K Rowling (pseudonym Robert Galbraith) is told through the eyes of a Private Investigator trying to discover the cause of a supermodel's death. Here's the link. 

Wine

As for wine, we're doing something a little different this month. Instead of choosing a wine variety, I'm choosing a wine location-- and we're going local with New York State wines. Some of my favorite wineries are here in NY, like Channing Daughters, Wolffer Estate, and Brooklyn's Red Hook Winery. So at our next meeting, feel free to bring any variety from the state. 

October 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

This month, I selected a controversial read: Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl, Lena's personal voyage of self-discovery and navigating the trial and tribulations of growing up. 

Wine

As for wine, let's go for a classic wine we haven't covered yet, Pinot Noir. Good Pinot Noir gets respect in the wine world because its grapes are very difficult to cultivate and produce into wine. It's usually a fairly complex wine, with low tannins and lighter in color than other red wines. Beware: good pinot is really fantastic, but bad pinot is REALLY horrible. If you're looking for a more affordable Pinot Noir (they tend to be one the expensive side), I recommend The Pinot Project. For the price, it's a solid wine.

August & September 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

I selected a summery read for our last summer month, Cutting Teeth by Julia Firerro, a Brooklyn based author. It's about NYC families gathering for a Labor Day retreat, which of course means drama-- and parenting woes. Very Brooklyn, right? 

Wine

Sauvignon Blanc. It's super crisp and balanced-- refreshing on a hot day. The best regions for this wine are the Loire Valley in France, California, and South Africa, but there are plenty of other great ones out there. It goes well with fish, shellfish, and light salads.

July 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

On July 1st, Friendship by Emily Gould comes out. I selected this book because it focuses on what happens to friendships as you reach your 30's-- something that a lot of us can relate to, and a topic that goes undiscussed. The story follows two friends, Bev & Amy, and I think it will make excellent summer reading. 

Wine

We'll be pairing this summery book with one of my favorite summer wines-- Riesling. I think Riesling can get a bad rap because there are a lot of bad overly sweet, syrupy rieslings out there. But when you find a drier one-- it's the perfect balance of sweet and crisp-- totally refreshing. 

June 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

In the spirit of summer, we'll be reading Emma Straub's The Vacationers, which comes out tomorrow. It's all about a family's 2 week vacay in Mallorca, and the secrets, joys, and jealousies that go along with it. 

Wine

And what better way to celebrate the warm months than with Sangria? Sangria originates from Spain & Portugal, and consists of wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and brandy. 

 

May 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

Frog Music by Emma Donoghue. It's a murder mystery that takes place in 1876, following a French burlesque dancer that tries to bring her friend Jenny's murder to justice.

Wine

Albarino, made from a variety of grapes grown in Northwest Spain. It has notes of apricot and peach, and is a bit more acidic than other white wines. The NY Times dubbed it, "The Little Spanish Grape that Could." 

March & April 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, a New York-based non-fiction about a 13-year-old boy who miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother, and his journey into adulthood. It's on the longer side, but moves quickly. 

Wine

Beaujolais is more fruity and bright, as it's made with the Gamay grape. Beaujolais is named for its region in France, near Burgundy, and can be paired with almost anything, from fish to chicken, to steak, but is particularly delicious with tomatoey dishes. 

February 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving & Leaving New York edited by Sari Botton. It's a collection of 28 writers' New York stories, all in response to Joan Didion's 1967 essay, "Goodbye to All That." I think most of us think about leaving New York from time to time, or at least consider what our other alternatives could be, but also have a passion (and kind of an addiction) to the city; this book shows that love/hate relationship through the short stories. 

Wine

A wine that warms from the inside out, a Sangiovese. It's traditionally a Tuscan wine, but is now often grown in the US too. I like the earthiness, the notes of cherry, and that it pairs well with rich foods, from mac & cheese to lamb chops. It's also super tannic, so best when eaten with food. 

December 2013 & January 2014 Reading & Tasting

Book

Night Film by Marisha Pessi. It's new and has been featured in several New York publications since the author is a New Yorker. A thriller, Night Film tells the story of a journalist who becomes obsessed with the mysterious death of a young prodigy. 

Wine

Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine that comes in both white and rose varieties. Cava is best paired with rich foods, whether that's a a hearty meat like duck or pork, or pasta with a decadent sauce. Another unique pairing to try is Cava with fried foods. I interviewed a California winemaker once and she said surprisingly, Cava with fried chicken, potato chips, or french fries is fantastic.