Merlot or a Sauvignon Blanc: The Best Wines To Have at Your Book Club
More often than not a book club is so much more than the discussion of Brit Bennett’s latest novel or the long-winded debates about why the group should read Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote for the fourth time. I mean, let’s be honest, a book club sometimes has very little to do with what we’re reading at all.
From your Syrah to your oaked Chardonnay, the ceremonial sloshing of a deep red down your gullet as you flick the pages of a Tolstoy is probably one of the reasons you joined this familiar group of literary renegades in the first place. However, when it comes to choosing the perfect wine for your book club, you’re often spoiled for choice. Well, I’ve taken it upon myself to scour the Yarra Valley of Australia and turn over every rock in Tuscany to find you the best wines to enjoy at your book club. Bottoms up!
Number One: Luna Nuda Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio wines from Alto Adige in Northern Italy are some of the world’s finest, a far cry from the bulk wine watery versions that take up shelf space. This one has racy edges and a core of ripe apples and lemon cream. It’s a lovely pure expression of citrus fruits that make it perfect for Spring. Perhaps one to be partnered with a Charlotte Bronte love affair.
Number Two: Alta Vista
This Hispanic red contains rich berry and plum aromas that are coiled up in a deep meaty accent. Originally from the Mendoza region in Argentina, this Malbec has a strong juicy acidity and medium overall intensity. I do warn you that this South American elixir may put a few of your guests to sleep. I recommend partnering this with a murder mystery, perhaps an Agatha Christie.
Number Three: Flora Springs Merlot
We’re off to California with this recommendation. The Napa Valley is the mecca of American wine and I think its grapes should be tried by every book enthusiast. The Flora Spring is succulent and complex with dark chocolate and spice hints fractured throughout. Containing all the intrigue of an Arthur Conan Doyle novel and all the adventure of Jack Kerouac page-turner, this full-bodied wine is not one to miss.
Number Four: Esprit de Buganay
Our next stop is the deep blue of the Mediterranean. This fuller-flavoured southern French ferocity has a unique blend of cinsault, syrah and grenache undertones. Unlike it’s predecessors, it’s modestly priced and widely available, ideal if you’re running late and scanning the shelves of your local Waitrose. Given the grape’s heritage, it seems fitting to partner it with one of France’s greatest authors, Albert Camus.
Number Five: Chateau Puech-Haut Tête de Belier
Staying in France with our last entry. This radiant concoction is produced from four different white varieties and shares the distinctive characteristics of the Chateau Puech-Haut family, with its blend of tree fruits and alluring spice. Certainly one to have a light discussion over Collette’s famous novel Gigi.
