“Wine as therapy, books as therapy, flowers as therapy” – that’s how Manhattan wine bar/guaranteed good-night spot Sauced describes Service95’s latest Book Tasting, and truer words have perhaps never been spoken. Our first event of its kind in NYC, was, as ever, an evening of collaboration (wine poured by Sauced, books chosen by us, florals courtesy of Bodega Flowers) and genuine connection (take a look through the photos from the eve and you’ll get a sense of just how great the atmosphere was).
By now, you might be familiar with the concept: four books, ‘tasted’ alongside four paired drinks (in this case, wine provided by Chambers Street Wines). And as dusk fell on 18 November, and guests spilled into the bar from across the city – note, it was the East Village location, but if you’re over in Brooklyn or even Nashville, you can get your Sauced fix there, too – our Service95 Book Club team was on hand to greet them: books, welcome wines and slices of L’Industrie pizza at the ready.
As only a select number could experience this in person (you guys sold out this tasting in minutes!) we wanted to be sure to share as much of the evening as possible with you, wherever you are. So if you’re curious to see what our Book Tastings are all about, or even up for hosting your own tasting at home, here’s what we served up...
The Book: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Paired With... Noëlla Morantin, La Boudinerie – a bright Loire Gamay red. It’s juicy, sharp and unpretentious, echoing the book’s wit and its honest look at identity, culture and contradiction.
The Book: Lincoln In The Bardo by George Saunders (Dua’s Monthly Read from October 2024)
Paired With... Rtvelisi Kisi Qvevri – a Georgian amber (orange) wine, with notes of apricot skin and tea leaf. It’s fermented underground in clay vessels, which imbue this wine with a quiet depth and a sense of stillness that mirrors the novel’s space between life and afterlife.
The Book: Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz, translated by Sarah Moses and Carolina Orloff
Paired With... L’Âme Bleue – a rustic French red with a rich, wild berry flavour. Each sip is packed with heat and earth; it’s intense and unruly, like the book’s raw dive into desire, motherhood and unravellingg sanity.
The Book: Coexistence: Stories by Billy-Ray Belcourt
Paired With... Jess Miller Pinot Noir – an Oregon pinot noir. It’s soft and fruity, with a gentle finish – a reflection of the book’s tender look at connection, intimacy and the fragile work of belonging.
And there you have it: four books, four wines, perfectly paired. If we’ve convinced you to recreate this at home, you can find more great wines from Sauced via its new subscription service, The Wine Hustler Club – a monthly drop of natural wines curated around a shared mood or story. Ideal for your next turn at hosting – or to enjoy curled up with a good book. Because, as you might have heard, there’s no pairing quite like a good book with a great glass of wine.
