Further Reading: Wine reading
for pleasure
Last year we published our reading lists for all levels, covering further reading for graduates of WSET Levels 1, 2 and 3 courses who wanted to keep learning (check it out here). While we think reading about wine is always fun, this article’s focus is on reading about wine for the pleasure of it. Yes, you might learn something along the way, but these are books to enjoy without making notes or highlighting passages. These are books to transport you into the lives of others and vineyards far away. They are books to enjoy simply for the love of wine. We’ve divided the list into fiction (for absolute escapism) and non-fiction/ memoir (for inspiration). It’s January, the festive season is behind us… and it’s time for some comfort reading. Read on!
Fiction
These novels feature the wine world as the back drop or the protagonist. Wine’s rich cultural history makes it an ideal topic to explore themes like class and snobbery, romance, climbing the career ladder, and even a murder mystery. Which will you choose?
We recommend:
- Sideways, Rex Pickett
A pre-wedding trip to the Californian wine region of Santa Ynez Valley sees two best friends get into several misadventures, a few existential crises, and drink their fair share of Pinot Noir. Subsequently made into a film and credited with the boom in Pinot sales following the film’s release, it’s a road trip novel about friendship, life’s twists and turns, and Pinot being better than Merlot.
- The Vintner’s Luck, Elizabeth Knox
A young Burgundian vintner meets an angel in his vineyard late one midsummer’s night. They meet every year upon the same date, and the angel acts as his guardian, teacher and guide. Lots of romance, mystery, and (yey!) more Pinot.
- Corkscrew, Peter Stafford-Bow
A total satire of all the pomp, ceremony, snobbery and bad behaviour in the world of wine. The protagonist of Corkscrew is an aspiring wine buyer, clawing his way to the top by any means possible. He’s also studying to be a prestigious Minstrel of Wine, the final exam of which involves blind tasting and identifying over 100 wines (without spitting). Wildly inappropriate but very good fun.
- The Critic, Peter May
A search for the killer ensues when top wine critic, Gil Petty, is found doused in red wine and strung up on a cross in the South-West French wine region of Gaillac. Winemakers, secret orders, suspicious neighbours and family members are all under suspicion. A thriller for wine lovers, with vineyards providing the stunning backdrop.
- Taste, Roald Dahl
A short story, nonetheless worth mentioning. The stakes are raised during a blind tasting challenge at a London dinner party, when one diner places an unorthodox bet.
Non-fiction/ Memoir
Moving onto non-fiction titles, we guarantee there will be no less excitement and intrigue in these recommendations. The best non-fiction writing on wine should feel like you’re in the room with the author, sipping a glass of something delicious, and letting the story carry you away.
We recommend:
- Adventures on the Wine Route, Kermit Lynch
A wine buyer’s tour through France, written by the US’s arguably most important wine importer and distributor. Originally published in 1988, his descriptions remain evocative and the anecdotes personal, funny and enlightening. There’s extensive information on producers and regions, yet it’s far from a textbook. A joy to read and guaranteed to give you wanderlust.
- Wine and War, Donald Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup
An instant favourite to anyone who reads it, this fascinating book full of famous producers and incredible insight tells the story of winemaking in France during the Second World War. Did winemaking continue? What happened to those workers who were called to the Front? Who bought all the wines? All these questions and more are answered in this short but perfect book.
- The Initiates (English)/ Los Ignorantes (Spanish), Étienne Davodeau
This graphic novel tells the improbable but true story of when an illustrator and author (Davodeau) asked a world-famous viticultor and winemaker (the Loire Valley’s Richard Leroy) if he could visit him and learn about his work. The two end up having a symbiotic experience learning about one another’s crafts. A unique creation.
- Confesiones de un Sommelier (currently published in Spanish and Catalan), David Seijas
David Seijas, ex-sommelier of El Bulli, tells his story of how his enormous passion for wine became his worst enemy. This is a memoir which also focuses on the joy his career in wine has brought him, and shares stories from his many years in the sector. However, it gives important insight into addiction and the challenges faced by those in the wine and service industries.
- A Hedonist in the Cellar, Jay McInerney
Best known as the author of novels like Bright Lights, Big city, here McInerney turns his attentions to his love of wine and work as a wine columnist. He brings together essays written over five years and sprinkles the prose with personal anecdotes, reviews of favourite bottles, and chapter titles like ‘Baby Jesus in Velvet Pants’. How could you resist?
We hope you enjoy these books as much as we did, and that they help to provide more richness and texture to your knowledge of wine. Reading about a topic you love and learning more about it doesn’t need to mean textbooks. It can mean satire, graphic novels, comedy and more. The wine world is your oyster! Would you like to see more reading lists from Wine Courses Barcelona? To let us know, or for any queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by emailing sharon@winecoursesbcn.com or calling 661 443 242. Happy reading!
N.B. Wine Courses Barcelona are not incentivised in any way to promote these products or authors.
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