Beach Reads & Bottles: Page-Turning Summer Wine & Book Pairings

Does wine bring out the nuances in … a good book? Our Far Niente food and wine (and literature!) pros sure think so.

Whether you’re escaping to the beach or simply escaping into a great beach read, get inspired by our team’s favorite summer books and bottles. From the Napa Valley Chardonnay that pairs with time travel (and nostalgia) to the late harvest jewel that’s as silky and sensuous as an epic romance, these pairings are off the shelf!

Page-Turning Summer Wine & Book Recs

I Capture the Castle+ EnRoute Rosé,"Facile à Boire"

Nicole Marchesi, Far Niente Winemaker

"I just read this wonderfully sweet coming-of-age story about 17-year-old girl in 1930s England last month ... while sitting on a beach in Cabo. It’s a bit fanciful (one of many reasons I love it) in that she lives in a crumbling old castle with her very odd and bohemian family. On the surface, it’s light and fun and easy to take in, similar to a delicious glass of EnRoute Rosé. But digging deeper, the story struck me with some pretty universal insights about the transition from childhood to young adulthood. Similarly, digging deeper into the EnRoute Rosé, I’m impressed with the nuances in flavor and aroma as well as the precise and intentional winemaking that went into it."

This Time Tomorrow + Far Niente Chardonnay

Rachelle Newbold, Director of DTC Digital Engagement

“There is nothing I like more than a summer read and a glass of wine! Right now I’m devouring Emma Straub’s This Time Tomorrow, which takes place in current day New York—until the main character time travels back to 1996. While reading, I think, “What if I could do it all over again?” and hope that I would still choose the path that would bring me to this present moment: lounging in the sun, reading and sipping my favorite Far Niente Chardonnay. Cool, lush, full of nuance and innuendo, yes, Far Niente Chardonnay pairs incredibly well with time travel, not to mention slow summer reading and a great snack (I’m into cucumber slices spread with salmon rillettes these days)."

The Song of Achilles + Dolce Napa Valley

Erika Boudreaux, Senior Manager of Membership & Private Client Services

"I've always loved the stories of The Odyssey, The Iliad and Greek mythology in general. This is a beautiful romance, poetically written, and very well researched (and a bonus – wine is oft mentioned throughout the pages!). The only thing better than indulging in Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles, was getting swept up in this mythological romance while sipping a silky, sensuous glass of late harvest Dolce. I kept trying to read and sip more slowly, to make both last longer. The romance of the book, paired with the luxurious sweetness of the Dolce and a plate of prosciutto-wrapped figs, just sings "summer to me."

The Lincoln Highway+ Bella Union Sauvignon Blanc

Greg Allen, Dolce Winemaker

"I am really enjoying The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles right now. One review called the book "a joyride," and what could be a better summer read than a heartfelt story filled with great characters and threaded with adventurous detours? I'd call this book refreshing escapism, especially when paired with a cool glass of Bella Union Sauvignon Blanc and languidly enjoyed in the shade of my neighbor's oak tree (which also happens to make wonderful shade in my yard)."

Already have your summer reading stack? Make your own inspired wine and book pairing (and add an exquisite layer of flavor to your next reading sesh).

"Language is wine upon the lips" - Virginia Woolf.