Can you believe that summer 2024 is almost over? As promised, I’ve compiled a second list of delicious book and wine pairings perfect for whiling away an afternoon or two. I hope you find something you like and that you have your glass handy. Cheers to the Lazy Days of Summer!

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

A quick and delightful read, especially if you’re a fan of the City of Light. Written by Ruth Reichl, longtime editor of Gourmet Magazine, it’s a fictional account of a young woman who ventures to Paris for the first time. Her exploits are often funny (the foibles of a newcomer in a strange city), other times a bit silly but they never fail to entertain. I read this just before the Olympic games began and found myself missing my favorite city.

2020 Henri Costal Vaillons Chablis Premier Cru

We enjoyed this wine with friends, dining al fresco in New York City at a lovely French café. Fresh citrus flavors, oyster shell minerality, high acidity – a picture-perfect wine for summer. A lovely companion with food and good conversation. It’s what I imagine all the gorgeous women of Paris order when they sit down for lunch.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Okay, about halfway into this story I almost put it down. The premise stretched my credulity and seemed like it would be a depressing read. I’m glad I stuck with it! A story that seemed shallow in chapter one wove together the lives of all the characters in a way I hadn’t imagined. Without giving anything away, I can say the novel left me feeling uplifted.

2020 Bodega Vinicola Monte Xanic Cabernet Franc Edición Limitada

Cabernet Franc from the Baja Peninsula of Mexico – bet you’ve never had that! We found it on the (very excellent) list at Amara at Paraiso in Miami. Amazing food, gorgeous waterside ambiance. We enjoyed this single vineyard delight with a range of dishes from grilled langoustines to beef empanadas. Just like the book, I wasn’t sure what to think at first: but one sip won me over. The book took a little longer but ultimately swayed me, too!

Burma Sahib by Paul Theroux

Have you read The Mosquito Coast? Or seen the series on Apple+? Written by the same author, this story sends us to Burma during British colonial rule, where a recent Eton graduate travels (reluctantly) to serve in the occupying police force. He experiences conflicts of race and class, struggles with the concept of family, and meets dozens of fascinating characters. A hypothetical biography of the writer George Orwell, it is intense, beautiful, and at times difficult to read. But I’m so glad I did!

2021 Zuccardi Poligonos de Valle de Uco Tupungato Semillon

Semillon from Argentina? I’d never tasted it before buying a few bottles from Miami’s best wine shop, 305 Wines. I really dig the high acidity and citrus palate, along with the distinctive “sweaty” notes typical of Semillon. It is super-fresh, with orchard, citrus, and a hint of tropical fruit, a crunchy-mineral component, and a long, cleansing finish. It’s the perfect wine for a Miami summer, and that’s saying something! In Burma Sahib, the dramatic weather and climate are so integral to the story, they might as well have dialogue! This wine would be the ideal apero sip!

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

One of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in a while. It’s long (700+ pages) but rewards those who stay connected until the end. It’s the saga of a Christian family living in Kerala, India, their hardships and joys, traditions and adaptations. Each of the characters is indelibly etched on my mind! You will feel as if you’re living next door to them: you’ll root for the women, whether clinging to the customs of generations or breaking the molds and casting new roles for themselves. And there’s a wild elephant who is no small part of the story. With so many layers, lessons, and life paths, it’s an emotional journey but one that may restore your faith in human-kind.

2015 Domaine de Chevalier, L’Esprit de Chevalier, Pessac-Leognan

Just like the book, this wine offers layer of flavor, aroma, texture, and, well, JOY! I had the chance to visit the property two years ago and was blown away by the older vintages we tasted (the whites were phenomenal!) Gabe and I enjoyed this at a Miami restaurant over a Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Superb!

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

A family returns to the same Cape Cod cabin they’ve rented for years. While they indulge in the same activities as usual (dips in the ocean, raiding the penny-candy store, drinking cocktails on the porch) this time is different. Lives are changing, relationships are in flux and chances are, this might be their last get-together. We can all relate to family drama, whether we’re laughing along  at a joke gone wrong or sympathizing with an unhappy soul. A quick read, but a perfect one for the beach!

2019 Isole del Cinghiale IGT Sangiovese Vecchia Vigna

A brilliant purchase from Last Bottle, this 100% Sangiovese is an everyday wine workhorse. We’ve had it with steak, chicken, salad, and on its own. No one doesn’t like it! It would be a great match with outdoor cooking or sitting inside listening to a thunderstorm. Even with the array of daily sandwiches that give their name to the book!

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

A murder that takes three decades to solve is the plot driver here. Add a group of super-wealthy New York socialites, a co-ed nature camp in the Adirondacks, and a dense and dark wilderness where people go missing and wow – there’s a great story there! It’ll keep you guessing until the end and, in between there’s lots of shady business behavior, teen drama, and a group of dogged detectives who must rely on the locals to solve the crime.

2021 Acquiesce Vineyards Belle Blanc

A heavenly white blend (Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc) from Lodi, California, this wine is sophisticated and drop-dead gorgeous! Aromas of honeysuckle, white flowers, peach, pear, and lemon are a feast for the senses. I think it would be perfect at the annual Black Fly Bye party on the estate lawn. Fancier (and more dramatic) than it sounds, I assure you!

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann

Grann, who penned Killers of the Flower Moon, brings us this nonfiction account of a fleet of English sailing ships attempting to sail around the southern tip of South America on their way to the far east. Being that it’s 1742, the journey is perilous, and the fleet separates. The book tracks the fate of each group (in stunning detail) and ultimately takes us back to London, where a court martial attempts to figure out the truth. Edge-of-your-seat excitement, especially as the sailors enter the Drake Passage. Just fantastic!

2021 Devil’s Corner Chardonnay, Tasmania

I loved the label of this light-bodied, crisp Chardonnay, not to mention that it’s described as “wine from a place unlike anywhere else.” It reminded me of The Wager and its voyage into uncharted waters and uninhabited islands. Pour yourself a glass as you turn the pages, relieved that you’re not flailing in the waters off the coast of Patagonia!

North Woods by Daniel Mason

What if you could turn back time? Travel back centuries and experience living in your family home through the ages? That’s what happens in North Woods, a rural patch of New England real estate that has some thrilling stories to tell. It took a minute for me to realize that the land was the central character, as the folks who inhabit this story are all so very interesting! A little mystery, some otherworldly occurrences, and a final comeuppance will keep you reading. Very different but brilliantly done.

2019 Kaiken Indomito Malbec Mendoza

Juicy, tangy, spicy Malbec – what better companion to the feral North Woods? I love this wine because it’s simple but very well made. Light on its feet with moderately high acidity, fresh red fruit, and moderate abv, this is a great burger wine, fun with kebobs, or even with steak. Time to re-up my stash!

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

I love Groff’s novels and essays for their descriptive punch and intensity. Florida, her collection of stories about living in the Sunshine State is enlightening – especially if you’ve spent more than a week there! The Vaster Wilds follows a female protagonist as she flees a religious colony in the Mid-Atlantic. As she travels north, alone and without any supplies, she learns to live off the land, becoming one with Nature. But, oh, there are plenty of adventures that lie in her path! To recount any of them would rob you of the pleasure of discovering them for yourself. It truly is a thrill, a grand adventure in the wild.

2020 L. Stone Fox Hill Vineyard Sangiovese ZERO (Ruth Lewandowski portfolio)

The vinous counterpart to The Vaster Wilds, this exciting, wild Sangiovese is every bit the equal to its brethren in Tuscany. Grapes were grown in cool Mendocino and you can smell and taste the chill: sour cherry, dirt, saddle leather, on the nose; high acidity, tangy red fruit, and wet rocks on the palate. Grippy tannins, moderate alcohol, long finish. YUM! Wish I had more of this one . . .

Here’s wishing you a Happy Reading and Wining!