#QuarantineTips Top 5 Reads + Sips
/Mary Mychael lives in the heart of 5 Points, and she and her husband run The Riverdale Inn! MM loves to read and used to work for a winery in Northern California, so she's an expert when it comes to a cozy night in! She’s sharing her favorite reads + wine pairings to help you escape to another world during quarantine.
5. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbary
This is the story of an unlikely friendship between two characters who share a love of hiding the best qualities about themselves. Within just a few pages, a beautiful story begins to emerge, and the reader is quickly connected with the characters who realize that the appreciation of finer things in life only excels with company.
Wine Pairing – Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir
With a setting in Paris, a French wine is clearly the perfect accompaniment to this novel. Many French wines can *break the bank*, so here is one that is elegant, rich, earthy and fruity while still affordable ($20-25).
4. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
This detective mystery novel is fast paced, fun to read and has a timeless quality to it. The first time I read it was in one sitting and it has kept a spot on my shelf ever since.
Wine Pairing – Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Something about the bold masculinity of the characters in this novel scream for a bold rich Cabernet Sauvignon. Albeit…this particular Cab ranks in the *special occasion* category (as it sits right about $100 a pop), but it is worth every penny. I recommend decanting this sucker to let the rich flavors and silky tannins open up, and sip away.
3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
A long-time favorite of mine, and a book I revisit every few years, The Road is a timeless classic. Post-apocalyptic novels have a sort of serenity that encapsulate fear and intrigue so beautifully. “He walked out in the gray light and stood and he saw for a brief moment the absolute truth of the world. The cold relentless circling of the intestate earth. Darkness implacable.”
Wine Pairing – Blanton’s Bourbon
OK so it’s not wine, but The Road calls for something stiff. Recommended “neat” and probably a hefty pour. Rich, spicy, smooth, with notes of caramel to carry you through the beautifully-rough realties that this novel paints to life.
2. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Just as incredible as the novel itself is the story behind it; Toole considered himself a failed writer yet posthumously received a Pulitzer Prize for this novel (which his mother discovered carbon copies of after his death). An equally hilarious & obscene depiction of the titular character, Ignatius J. Reilly, carries this novel while twisting and turning through New Orleans: as depicted in an equally brilliant light. It is silly, full of satirical humor and necessarily pointless.
Wine Pairing – Steele Viognier
One of my all-time favorite white wines, this Viognier is elegant, bright, floral, crisp, earthy and full. Drink it cold, but not ice cold, and before you know it, the bottle is gone. Steele Winery is located in Lake County California where this particular Viognier thrives. Its small production though, so you might have to go direct to the winery to get your hands on a bottle…and trust me, it’s worth it!
1. Harry Potter (any and all novels in the series) by J.K. Rowling
I don’t think my love (obsession?) for HP is news to anyone, but here we are. I “grew up” with Harry…the novels came out when I was 10, about the same age Harry was when he discovered he was a wizard (he was 11) and from then on, my life changed for the better. I was on the pre-order list at Chamblins Bookmine for EVERY release and I am always re-reading the series (seriously, I get to the end, then I start again). I don’t need to defend the stories, they are great, and worth reading tenfold.
Wine Pairing – Whatever you have laying around the house
So the point here is not to be picky about your wine choice, but ultimately to drink it out of a goblet. It makes all the difference and adds magic to the experience of drinking while reading. (See what I did there with the magic thing?!)
*If you enjoyed this beverage pairing with literature, you’ve got to check out Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle. It was my inspo for this post and a fun book to thumb through with friends!
