Three Mondays ago, Jacqueline, Alexa (@alexaswinediary) and I were enjoying dinner – and half-price wine – at Michael’s Genuine with Amanda Fraga. After nerding over Champagne, conversation turned to books. It quickly became an excitable discussion with many instances of , “oh, you MUST read….x”. And so an idea was born: To survey other wine pros on their favorite summer reads.
The one rule was “no wine books!” We love them, but sometimes you’ve got to switch off. Adjacent topics like cooking and hospitality were allowed.
The response to our initial request for books was so great that we’re breaking this into at least two volumes of recommendations – and I expect that number to grow. I hope you find these suggestions as inspiring as we do!
Amanda Fraga, Director of Beverage @ The Genuine Hospitality Group
A favorite summer read:
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Why do you love it?
The book is real and believable, from the two main characters to the events that surround them. The main characters are linked because they built a computer game in the 90s, and although I don’t game, I have close friends that do. I enjoyed reading about them developing a PC right as PCs were becoming popular at home in the 1990s
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
I did actually read this book a few times at the pool and beach and I drank and Aperol spritz with it (lol). But if we say wine I would go with a canned wine, particularly Nomadica’s Cheeky Red. Because drinking this while gaming, or on the beach, something in a convenient vessel seems like the right way to go.
Shawn Zylberberg, Account Executive @ Colangelo & Partners
A favorite summer read:
Papillon by Henri Charrière
Why do you love it?
I love this gripping book for its imaginative and adventurous language, and how it tells the story of a wrongfully convicted murderer nicknamed ‘Papillon’ as he weaves through dense forests, dangerous rivers, and the jugged rocks of Devil’s Island to be free.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Pair this with El Enemigo Cabernet Franc (red) or Chardonnay (white), not only for its generous and complex flavors that are just as thrilling as this book, but for its parallel message that the battle we remember is the fight against the original enemy, ourselves.
Adrian Lopez, Managing Partner @ The Allocation Room
A favorite summer read:
The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant
Why do you love it?
Kobe Bryant The Mamba Mentality was a book that I enjoyed because it gets my mind set right when I need it most. If anyone reads it, you will feel totally motivated afterwards. He mentions how he accomplished his goals, the attitude and work ethic you need to achieve those goals. A champion’s mindset – The Mamba Mentality.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Keeping it NBA related here, but I’m going with Chosen Family which is co-owned by two NBA Players. Channing Frye and Kevin Love(Miami Heat). That’s a perfect pairing.
Henrique Castillo, Head Sommelier @ L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon & Le Jardinier Miami
A favorite summer read:
Cumin, Camels, and Caravans: A Spice Odyssey By: Gary Paul Nabhan.
Why do you love it?
It is a fascinating book that takes you on a journey along four prominent trade routes: The Silk Road, the Frankincense Trail, The Spice Route and the Camino Real. With a combination of historical accounts, travel narratives and ancient recipes, it describes the critical roles that Semitic peoples and desert floras had in setting the stage for globalized spice trade.
For us wine professionals that love aromatics, from the baking spices to Za’atar, this book serves the purpose of reflective inquiry into the origins of the trade. As the Author puts it: “One cannot truly love spices without conceding that their use is never politically, economically, or even culturally neutral. It is impossible to reflect on the significance of aromatics and their history without acknowledging that imperialism, cultural competition and collaboration, religious belief, and social status are embedded in every milligram of cardamom, cinnamon, or cumin.”
You learn, for example, about the aromas emanating from the driest of places in the Arabian Peninsula and the caravans of traders who traveled long distances and became multilingual merchants adept at telling compelling stories about the potency of their products and the adventures that had occurred while in transit. They knew full well that they were not merely selling calories, cures, or scents but also the stories that came along with them that might magnify the value of each item. This is similar to sommeliers nowadays telling the stories of the land and the producers who worked them.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
2014 Gravner, Ribolla Gialla, Fruili-Venezia-Giulia, Italy
Thinking about a wine to pair it with was really fun because this book provides you with historical recipes. I wanted to include a wine that would be versatile with the many flavors, and the spices mentioned; a flexible wine that highlights the savoury taste in the food and one that can be drunk at my locations.
I also want to recommend this wine for its historical significance, like the fact that Josko Gravner is using Georgian Amphora and ancient techniques to produce it in a region that is historically significant for being a hub in the spice trade.
Allegra Angelo, Sommelier & Partner @ Vinya Wine
A favorite summer read:
The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh
Why do you love it?
I love sports, and star athletes, and more so than epic winemakers or renowned sommeliers, they inspire me. I especially love American football, because growing-up I would watch the NY Giants with my family every Sunday. Looking back, those football Sundays really kept us together, and I remember feeling so depressed when the day ended. I was born in 1980, so Bill Walsh and the iconic San Francisco 49ers resonate with me. I’m usually not a fan of “How-to” or cheesy leadership books, but this book piles on solid lessons for anyone, in any industry looking to evolve and grow.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
It sounds corny, but I’m into canned spritzes right now that don’t taste like watered-down cocktails. My current obsession is Reyes Paloma. At 7% alcohol it has enough oomph to satiate my palate, but keeps me clairvoyant for tasks, like reading.
Jacqueline Pirolo, Wine Director – Managing Partner @ Macchialina
A favorite summer read:
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Why do you love it?
I have been in the restaurant industry, which I love and am passionate about, for 15 years. Macchialina has been open for 11 years, and as an owner of a restaurant, this book has been extremely useful in continuing to learn.
My brother and I remind ourselves often that Macchialina is a special place, but we (and along with our incredibly talented team) have the ability to grow this restaurant a little bit each year, keeping it authentic and true but allowing it to evolve!
I think that combination is what can keep restaurants hitting milestone birthdays. It can be challenging to not get burnt out or stay stuck in your ways, and this book has fired me up, reminding me of some points I should re-visit but also opening my mind up to so much more.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
A glass of Amontillado Sherry. For me you want something you sip on slowly as you read through all the stories in this book.
Bernardo Villanueva, Co-founder @ Vinonueva Fine & Rare Wines
A favorite summer read:
Shoe Dog: A memoir by the creator of Nike by Phil Knight
Why do you love it?
It’s an inspiring and captivating book about one of the greatest entrepreneurial journeys in recent American history. It reveals the challenges and triumphs behind building the iconic Nike brand. Shoe Dog is a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners alike. You’ll realize that everyone struggles along the road, especially in the beginning, but what sets people apart is the passion, relentless work ethic and unwavering drive day in and day out in achieving success.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Dominio del Águila – Ribera del Duero Reserva 2018 An adventurous producer. Just like Phil Knight’s determination and passion, this wine’s complex character will keep you engaged from the first sip to the last page of the book.
Sarah Phillips McCartan, Co-founder of Wine Guide Miami & wearer of many hats
A favorite summer read:
The Neopolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. All four of them!
Why do you love it?
I’ll be honest: The first 50 pages are work. And then, wow. Poverty, wealth, relationships, politics, ambition, coming of age, growing older, and much else, are all explored through the lens of a complex friendship between the two main female characters. It’s beautifully written and – bonus points! – set in Italy.
I cried once, at the last sentence. I’m still not sure whether it was the book that moved me, or if I was mourning its end.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Benanti’s Nerello Cappuccio from Mount Etna.
Like the main characters, Capuccio normally works better in partnership with something else – but it also succeeds when it stands alone. It’s a wine that you can enjoy without thinking, but you’ll enjoy it more when you start to contemplate it.
Also it’s delicious and I’d quite like a bottle.
We’ll publish volume 2 next week. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram @wineguidemiami!
Sarah is a freelance wine educator, writer and events host, based in South Beach. She holds the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits and is a current Master of Wine student.
