Who doesn’t love curling up on the couch, underneath a blanket with a good book in one hand and a glass of wine in the other? Especially as the temperature continues to dip. Pairing the best of both worlds is Maryna Strachan from the TOPS at SPAR Wine Show and Resa Forgarty from local book store, Fogarty’s.
Presenting a love affair of literature and fine wine, the pair will recommend which wines best complement a thriller, love story, suspense, drama or comedy, among other genres at The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show taking place between the 4th and 6th of August at The Boardwalk. A sneak peek will also be presented at a special Book & Wine Tasting at Fogarty’s.
CLICK Here to get free tickets to the TOPS at SPAR Wine Show.
To tease your palate, here Maryna and Resa provide a taste of how the written word goes hand in hand with the world of fine wine.
Just for the thrill of it
Get into the heart of the action with Emma Donoghue’s Room. A bold escape plan, it is a chilling tale of a young son’s bravery as he attempts to break out of his prison, a single room, where he and his mother have been held captive for seven years by Old Nick.
“Room pairs well with De Grendel’s Shiraz,” suggests Maryna. “It’s a spicy, deep red to black wine that has a complex palate with layers of red & black berries, cherries and ripe bloodplums. Just the varietal to savour while immersing yourself in a book layered with intensity and emotion.”
Light and easy
For something less heavy, Resa suggests ladies’ literature’s new queen, Jo Moyes and her novel The Girl You Left Behind. It follows the movements of a 1916 French painting which belonged to Edouard Lefevre and his wife Sophie during the war and ends up in the possession of the modern-day Liv who takes ownership of the artwork on the death of her young husband. This is a tale of how two women are curiously connected, despite the centuries between them, through a piece of art.
“While it’s a girly read, The Girl You Left Behind has a sadness about it. So while a white wine is its recommended varietal it should offer an explosion of flavour like D’Aria’s Sauvignon Blanc. A perfect pair for a novel that presents great depth not necessarily evident to the naked eye,” recommends Maryna.
Sultry and sexy
If you like a little blush, then Maestra by L.S Hilton is your titillation. A story about a young woman, Judith Rashleigh, who works at an auction house but dreams of breaking into the art world. To make ends meet she moonlights as a hostess in a salubrious West End bar. But when she accidentally stumbles across a conspiracy at her auction house, she is fired and accepts an offer from one of the bar’s clients to run away to the French Riviera. What looked like a perfect escape plan is anything but and sees Judith fleeing for her life.
A twist like this needs a varietal that tickles you pink says Maryna. “Delheim’s Pinotage Rosé is both complex and lively – just like Judith’s story – and its vibrant hue offers a fruity palate with floral undertones.”
Got the giggles?
For something bright and breezy try Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew, a dark and delicious new crime series that blends The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency with Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano. Tannie Maria, both a cook and writer for the local newspaper’s recipe section, gets an unannounced visit from friend and editor, Harriet, who delivers the ingredients for two new recipes of love and murder as well as a whole basketful of challenges.
“JC Le Roux’s flagship Cap Classique, Scintilla, uplifts the pages of this tale in an explosion of scintillating bubbles. It’s luxurious, well-balanced and smooth and offers the ideal fancy fizz to get lost in while indulging in a good read.”
Of love and loss
A literary classic, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini can only be paired with a full bodied wine with intense undertones such as Spier’s Creative Block 2.
Sip while getting lost in a world of heartbreak, where an unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant develops in Kabul. It is a story about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, the possibility of redemption and the exploration of the power of fathers over sons.
“Books and wine are two birds of a feather. The perfect complement to a relaxing evening or chilled weekend, they’re both engaging, bold and entertaining, and bring out the best in each other – after all isn’t book club the new wine club? Create chemistry by choosing a literary genre of choice and pair it with just the right depth of seduction, depth, drama or allure,” ends Maryna.
Join Resa and Maryna for a sneak peek Book & Wine tasting at Fogarty’s before visiting The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show from the 4th – 6th of August at The Boardwalk where you can browse and buy books while pairing with just the right wine at Fogarty’s pop-up stand.
Free Wine Show Tickets
Correctly complete this form to be in the RUNNING to snag a set of free double tickets. The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show runs from 4 to 6 August 2016 at The Boardwalk, PE.
Alan Straton
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