Here we are! Back for Volume 2 of our summer reading series with Miami wine pros.
We asked some of Miami’s top wine professionals to pair their favorite summer reading book with wine. The only catch — no wine books!
Because we had such a robust response to this request, we decided to break it up into several volumes. It seems like Miami’s wine community is also a community of excited readers!
Cheers to finding new books to add to our reading lists this summer… and beyond!
Alexandra McDonnell, Owner @ Vinoteca (Coconut Grove)
A favorite summer read:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Why do you love it?
A book I recently reread this summer was The Alchemist. It tells the story of a young boy who dreams of finding a treasure in the desert. He gives up everything he has to embark on a journey to find his “personal legend” – his purpose in life. Traveling to a new land he is forced to learn how to adapt to new places and is faced with many obstacles along the way. Despite many challenges, he follows his heart, perseveres, and learns several life lessons along his journey.
Reading this book again has made me think of my own journey in the wine world, specifically moving to Italy to study Viticulture & Enology. I was forced to adapt to a new country, learned life lessons from the people I met along the way, faced several obstacles, and found what I believe is my purpose. As I embark on this new journey in my life opening Vinoteca, I feel this book is a good reminder to have the courage to follow your dreams, overcome obstacles, and to embrace the unknown.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Any sparkling red from Emilia Romagna (Lambrusco, Gutturnio Frizzante, Barbera Frizzante)
Gutturnio Frizzante was the common wine of the area where I studied in Emilia Romagna. Not very well known in the US or even Italy, for me it was the local wine we grew to love. It is a perfect refreshing “frizzante” red wine for hot summer days.
Gabriela Ospina, Beverage Manager @ Boia De
A favorite summer read:
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Why do you love it?
I own a very dusty copy of Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Marriage Plot that once got a lot of traction in the 2010s, when I was in my twenties and living in San Francisco, and would idle away many a summer afternoon in the park. It was the perfect summer read, as it was easy for me to get lost in, nod off during and pick back up. It is a coming-of-age story set in the ’80s, centered around college-aged (somewhat) pseudo-intellectuals. A little on the nose, but there you are.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
A Cru Beaujolais is the wine equivalent of a pair of tortoiseshell glasses. The type that belongs on one of the characters in this book. It is also lighter in body without compromising on complexity and structure. On a hot summer day, you want something you can throw on ice that will keep its personality.
Alessandra Esteves, Director of Wine Education @ Florida Wine Academy
A favorite summer read:
How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life, by Dr. Bob Rotella
Why do you love it?
I read this book twice and have the audiobook version as well. I think it is a fascinating book about how people thrive in sports and in life. The book tells stories about LeBron James and great golf players, as well as business people. It also discusses how to be optimistic, and the importance of having patience and determination to reach one’s goals.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
As the book represents the true American spirit, a great California Cabernet Sauvignon, like Daou Soul of a Lion, or Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain.
Filip Trajkovic, Co-proprietor/ Chef @ WATER LION Wine + Alchemy
A favorite summer read:
PX This (Diary of the “Maitre d’ to the Stars”)
Why do you love it?
This book is a fun, humorous (yet insightful) gaze into the bowels of the NYC fine-dining and fashion industries, so it’s the perfect beach/ poolside reading for those who love glamorous restaurants and nightlife. It’s also a heartfelt non-fictional account of a bygone era in New York City, from the daily perspective of a person who deftly but arduously navigated its unique challenges and gratifications.
Or, to put it more simply: I empathize, I really do. And I love the author!
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
1880 Askaneli Brothers Rosé (Grapes: Muscat Blanc, Rkatsiteli, Saperavi)
We are so happy to have found this bright, fresh, and lively Georgian rosé that goes down as smoothly as PX This does.
Nick Jackson MW, President @ Crescendo Wines
A favorite summer read:
Any of the 20 (!) Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O’Brian. The first one is the most famous because it got made into a (great!) 2003 movie with Russell Crowe: Master and Commander. But they are all fantastic.
Why do you love it?
These are classic boy’s adventure stories but somehow so much more too. The Napoleonic wars have captivated every generation since and for good reason. These are stories of derring-do, of battle, of bravery; but also of comradeship and purpose while working as a team – timeless themes.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Madeira. There’s a lot of wine in the novels but all of it ends up aging in casks in the ship’s hull while travelling the globe!
JC (Juan Restrepo), Owner @ Happy Wine Calle 8
A favorite summer read:
The Strike Zone by Mike Lupica
Why do you love it?
The Strike Zone is a book by Mike Lupica. I used to read his column every going back and forth to work. I like it because it captures themes of determination and sacrifice when you arrive in America.
Despite being 56 years old, I found myself drawn to the story because of its relatable characters and inspiring message. As an immigrant to the United States, I could empathize with the protagonist’s struggles, having faced similar challenges such as language barriers and a lack of familial support.
The book resonated with me on a personal level these days in Florida, with the new nonsense laws against a lot of good people looking for a better life here in the States.
It reminded me of the sacrifices I had to make to establish a new life in New York; the dreams I had to squash of being a piano player among a few other things.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Tomas Postigo 3er año Ribera del Duero, Spain.
Amanda Joffee, Founder & Content Creator @ Gamayzing
A favorite summer read:
OMFG, BEES!: Bees Are So Amazing and You’re About to Find Out Why
Why do you love it?
An educational and delightfully irreverent book. You can tell the author is very serious about bees. Beautiful illustrations.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Weingut Brand – Riesling Feinherb – Organic with floral and honey notes. Everything a bee would love!
Franco Yannelli, Co-Founder @ CHIMBA Restaurant & Grupo Alfoz
A favorite summer read:
HOW MUSIC GOT FREE by Stephen Richard Witt
Why do you love it?
This book takes me back to my adolescence and reveals the behind-the-scenes of something that shaped a huge part of my life: music. The untold stories of the evolution of the music industry were more than captivating to me, being part of the generation that experienced firsthand the transition from CDs to digital music, and the excitement generated by breaking the law for the first time: downloading a song for free on Napster. It makes me feel younger and gives me a lot to think about at the same time.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
El Enemigo – Malbec. It was the first wine I truly enjoyed in the same era the book’s story transcends.
Jennifer Schmitt, Fine Wine Specialist Heritage Division @ Winebow Imports
A favorite summer read:
Unraveling by Peggy Orenstein
Why do you love it?
This is a story of perseverance during a time of uncertainty. She sets out to make a sweater from sheep to sweater. We follow her tribulations of shearing the sheep, spinning the wool, dying the yarn, and knitting the sweater. If you are all things terroir nerd, how are you not fascinated? This is a look into an industry that in its artisanal form is on the endangered list.
I find the underlying message of how we find ourselves through craft very relatable.
Studying for sommelier exams can feel much like wrangling a waxy sheep. Once you learn the steps, you will have yourself a sweater. One arm might be longer than the other or the color might not be the exact color you were aiming for, but no one can take the experience away from you.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
Domaine du Closel, Clos du Papillon, Savennieres…ideally with bottle age. 😊
Chenin Blanc, especially from Loire, shows aromas of lanolin and wool on the nose and can have a waxy texture on the palate. What a way to highlight the main ingredient of the story. This wine is the storyline dancing on the palate.
The mushroom notes plays up the earth tones and aromas of the freshly sheared wool. The lemon, quince, and pear tones celebrate the colors Peggy is able to hand dip in her hand-spun yarn. The ginger spice is the interesting history lesson she laces into the story. And the racy acidity is the refreshing perspective on an industry that is often not thought about.
Alexa Ferra, Blogger @ Alexa’s Wine Diary
A favorite summer read:
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Why do you love it?
I love that this is not your traditional love story. It centers around a rivalry-turned-romance between the Prince of Wales and the First Son of the United States. It’s witty, funny, romantic, and extra spicy (some scenes will make you blush and clutch your pearls). It’s a well-written romance novel (which sounds like an oxymoron, I know), and a page-turner that champions love and equality in a clever and entertaining way.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
As an ode to one of the main characters, Prince Henry of Wales, I’d have to pick Gusbourne Brut Reserve. It’s a fun English sparkling wine fit for a royal or presidential son.
Jacqueline Coleman, Co-Founder @ Wine Guide Miami
A favorite summer read:
Hotel Scarface – Where the Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami by Roben Farzad
Why do you love it?
I love this book because it goes into detail about Miami’s sordid history with cocaine, sex, and violence in Dade County’s wild west of the 1980s. Ok, that sounds weird, but it is very much a Miami history that we should learn and know, and maybe not repeat. Plus, this book tells the stories of the infamous Mutiny Hotel in Coconut Grove – which still stands today – near where I live. This was the headquarters of Miami Vice shenanigans and where all the popular gangsters partied the night away.
Hotel Scarface provides readers with an exciting story in a journalistic way, through evidence collected during interviews with some of these larger-than-life characters, along with previously uncovered documents detailing their crimes. It may be hard to believe, but these crazy people really were responsible for putting the little town of Miami on the map in a big (not-so-good) way.
All Miamians should know these stories a little better, or at the very least be entertained by them.
Which wine would you pair with it and why?
I imagine these guys drank a lot of Dom Perignon Champagne, so that’s what I’m pairing here.
If you missed Vol. 1 of this summer reading series, you can find additional entries here on Wine Guide Miami.
Jacqueline is a professional wine + travel writer, radio host, wine columnist, and consultant based in Miami, FL.
She is the monthly “Vino” columnist for Biscayne Times newspaper, a guest host covering the drinks segment on Linda Gassenheimer’s podcast show, “Food, News, and Views,” and Star Wine List’s Miami Ambassador.
Jacqueline is a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist & WSET 3.
