--K. Reka Badger
Read between the wines
You don't have to be a sommelier, or a librarian, to pair the perfect book with the perfect wine.
Since the first poet took his initial sip of wine, the noble grape, in all its many forms and fermentations, has inspired writers to plumb their creative depths. Some have fallen prey to its seductive charms, sliding into self-indulgent prattle, while others find its power leads to paths of glorious expression.
Oenophiles who love to read often find that the work of a particular author puts them in the mood for a certain wine, a phenomenon explored by Tim Duggan, tasting room manager at Buttonwood Winery.
�If I�m reading John Grisham, I�m drinking Pinot Noir,� Tim says. �Philosophy goes with Cab, and if it�s Poe, well, you have to drink what he�s writing about.�
Stephan Bedford, owner/winemaker of Bedford Thompson Winery, and a man who prefers non-fiction, admits, �I read a lot of biographies and when you�re deep into the life of Teddy Roosevelt or Harry Truman, you have to have a port.�
A closer look at the affinities of mind and palate reveals an intriguing array of literary pairings. And maybe even the makings of a novel party game.
The rough and tumble nature of Ernest Hemingway�s tales calls for a sanguine-hued wine with substantial tannins, and the Spanish varietal Tempranillo, especially one made by Santa Barbara County producer Verdad, sister facility of Qup�, offers just the right color and heft. To help digest the grittier passages of Papa Hemingway�s yarns, Tim recommends �a nice Merlot� from Buttonwood Farm Winery.
While riding the rails with Jack London, fleeing the dustbowl with Steinbeck, or plying Herman Melville�s high seas, most self-respecting adventurers reach for a hearty Syrah. The ripe, jammy texture of the Curtis Syrah, Ambassador�s Vineyard, or the masculine complexity of any vintage of Syrah from J. Kerr Wines adds a mighty aroma and palpable spice to the mental journey.
As Stephen King takes an ordinary day in his character�s life and spins it into a strange foray into a parallel universe, the palate is likely to call out for something equally mysterious, such as Richard Longoria Wines Hoo Doo Red, an uninhibited blend of six Italian varietals. Early in the wine�s infancy, Rick �Mad Dog� Longoria realized, �there was something going on in the cellar...a kind of hoo doo thing happening down there,� and couldn�t resist the slightly macabre name.
Mystery writer Sue Grafton takes her readers through rain slicked alleyways and darkened city streets, creating the perfect atmosphere for Santa Barbara Winery�s Beaujour, a light, dry wine best enjoyed when slightly chilled. The layers of flavors, fruity nuance, and soft toast unfold along with her irresistible plot lines, and are gentle enough to sip until the wee hours of the morning.
The dark, brooding tales of Raymond Chandler suggest a contemplative quaff such as Vandale Vineyards Sangiovese, or a Mandolina Nebbiolo from Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, wines designed with slow sipping in mind. These wines tend to open up, over the course of a few hours, on a parallel course with Chandler�s crafty who-dunnits.
For an evening with J.K. Rowling and her boy wonder, Harry Potter, only sparkling wine�preferably a rosy-pink Blanc du Noir�will do. The subtle chemistry and lively bubbles of this magical beverage transport the reader deep into the dusty chambers and fantastic worlds frequented by wizards and wily trolls, without ever having to leave the comfort of that easy chair.
Sylvia Plath�s unembellished take on life finds resonance with a crisp, dry white wine, such as the M. Brown Riesling, an aromatic offering grown in Australia�s Eden Valley. Both offer substance and high style, with an astringent, yet startlingly refreshing twist, leaving the reader, and taster, satisfied, yet in the mood for just a little more.
The detailed inner landscapes created by novelist Barbara Kingsolver and the journalistic observations of Annie Dillard require a bright, well-structured accompaniment along the lines of a Cold Heaven Viognier, a floral, yet decidedly spicy wine, or Foxen Vineyard�s Chenin Blanc, a sophisticated quaff full of peach, melon, and citrus notes. Both wines sparkle in the glass, mirroring flashes of insight as the intrepid protagonists make their way thought the thickets and jungles of their literary terrain.
Just as ghostwriters lend body and imagination to someone else�s story, Zinfandel adds zesty pepper and wild berry components to an otherwise bland blend. Most �as told to� paperbacks and �ripped from the headlines� tell-alls improve when there�s a little Zinfandel on hand to spice up the rhetoric and soften the bombast.
As summer fades and the season shifts, our attention drifts from barbecues and beach parties, to hearty stews and warm fireplaces. A good book and a well-chosen bottle of Santa Barbara County wine to match will surely ease the chilly afternoons and the long, dark, stormy nights ahead.
Freelancer K. Reka Badger would pair a well-aged root beer with most comic books. She can be reached at [email protected].
Published in the Santa Maria Sun on Oct. 9, 2003. Posted here with permission.