Wine by the Book! A pairing of wine and words just for book groups!

In Wine by the Book!, Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach® and author of The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine, pairs words and wine just for book groups.  Laurie explores wines from regions found in book group picks – and she gives general tips on wine essentials, including how to order wine at dinner, simplify food pairings, handle awkward wine moments, and even bounce back the morning after!

For your next gathering, why not pair a book selection from Reading Group Choices with a wine choice from Wine by the Book!

"Over a bottle of wine many a friend is found" —Old Jewish proverb

Cheers!

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This month, Laurie suggests some wine parings for your discussion of
Confections of a Closet Master Baker
by Gesine Bullock-Prado.

Looking to sip some Pinot Noir with Gesine’s Reading Group Whoopie?
Here’s what you need to know about Pinot…

Pinot Noir (a.k.a. Red Burgundy)
Pronunciation: PEE-noh nwahr

Food’s best friend. One of the most food friendly wines on the planet, this is the grape of obsession. Once you have had an exemplary version of Pinot you will be hooked. Finding great affordable Pinots can be a full time job. Somewhere between super-powered and subtle lives the mighty Pinot Noir. Not as full-bodied and in your face as a Cabernet, or as simple and fruity as a Merlot, a great Pinot Noir is quite frequently—a wine lover’s favorite. Pinot is a finicky grape. Conditions must be right for it to show its beauty with complex aromas of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, nutmeg, rose petal, oregano, mushrooms and sometimes violets.

What to eat with Pinot Noir: Soft tannins with balancing acidity make this a versatile match for most any cuisine (including Reading Group Whoopie!). Pair your favorite Pinot with poultry, pork, or lamb, mushrooms and oily fishes like tuna and salmon. Trying to convert a white drinker to red? Pinot is an excellent place to start. Ample fruit, soft tannins and its silky smooth texture make this an easy red for white drinkers to love.

Where to find great Pinot Noir? Top regions for the grape include the Burgundy region of France, Willamette Valley in Oregon, New Zealand, Italy (called Pinot Nero), Austria, Germany (called Spätburgunder), cooler regions of Australia like the Yarra Valley and areas of California, such as Carneros, Russian River and Monterey.

If Pinot Noir were a person it would be described as “The Diva.” Pinot Noir can be thin-skinned and temperamental during youth, but if treated with TLC, it matures into quite a package. Appealing to both red and white drinkers alike, it has all the flavors of red wine, but it is lighter bodied than most reds. It’s legendary for its success in Burgundy, in the
movie “Sideways” and plays a starring role at dinner tables all over the world!

Here are some of my favorites Pinots from Willamette Valley, Oregon:

Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Jim Bernau, owner and founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, is obsessed with making the best Pinot Noir that the Willamette Valley can deliver.  The Estate Pinot Noir is made from Pinot Noir clones from Burgundian origins delivering a medium bodied with flavors of cherry, spice with a hint of tea and earth.    The structure and firmness of the wine make it a perfect match for meatier dishes like lamb, duck or beef. 
Retail $27

Stoller JV Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Stoller Vineyards was founded by Bill and Kathy Stoller in 1993 when they purchased their 163 acre vineyards which now houses one of the state of the art wineries in the Valley.  I had the pleasure to meet winemaker Melissa Burr at Pinot Camp and was stuck by her positive easy going style.  This delicious Pinot matchers her personality with its ripe berry flavors that are offset by a spicy finish.  Like an old friend, this Pinot will be an instant hit especially paired with grilled Tuna or salmon.
Retail $25

A to Z Pinot Noir, Oregon
If you created a dream team of wine makers with experience with Pinot Noir you’d end up with the founders of A to Z Wineworks.  Debra and Bill Hatcher along with Sam Tannahill and Cheryl Francis set out in 2002 to create amazing Pinot that would be affordable.  With critical success and a recent purchase of Rex Hill Vineyards there is no stopping them!  This amazingly balanced Pinot Noir has dark berry fruit flavors with a touch of smoke and earth.  For a perfect evening pair it with a traditional roast chicken dinner and a table full of friends.
Retail $23

Whip up a batch of Reading Group Whoopie!

Visit with Gesine Bullock-Prado in her 1-On-One.

Click here to find other wines in your area.

About Laurie:

After a successful career in software sales, Laurie decided she was ready for a life change. Through working with a life coach, Laurie began to realize that her biggest passions—wine and people—could be parlayed into a new career. In 2002, she began her wine career in Manhattan where she studied with the American Sommelier Association to obtain her certificate in Viticulture and Vinification.  Concurrently, she trained as a life coach with Coach U, the leading global provider of coach training programs and is presently a member of the International Coaching Federation.

As The Wine Coach®, Laurie creates unique corporate team building events, group tasting seminars and culinary tours. She is dedicated to demystifying wine—one glass at a time, helping build successful teams as well as ensuring that everyone has an inspiring time at her events. She’s a sparkling presenter, highly skilled at engaging every wine lover—from beginners to wine enthusiasts.

Laurie is a regular columnist in several magazines, a sought after speaker and guest expert on radio stations across the country. Her weekly radio show “Something to Wine About®” can be heard on WCEI 96.7 FM and WBAL 1090AM or on demand. Laurie is also serving as national spokesperson for the “Pour on The Joy” campaign sponsored by Lindemans® Wines where she is helping people increase their happiness by making the wine-joy connection. Laurie’s first book The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine, reflects her fresh perspective on wine education and has already received rave reviews.

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