Drink Charitably!

I love pairing wine with things people don’t really think about pairing wine with…like music…like people…like art…like movies.  But when I pair wine with books, I have to put on my reading glasses.  I’m not talking about the kind over your eyes.  I’m talking about the kind that hold wine.

I recently picked up Michael Pollan’s ‘The Omnivore’s Dilemma.’ And to be accurate, I drive a lot, so I picked up the CD’s and am listening to the book…not physically reading it.  But rarely do I listen to a book that inspires me to sit in the car and listen in the driveway after my drive is over…and even more rare when I pop out the CD, bring the ‘book’ inside, and listen to it inside.  ‘The Omnivore’s Dilemma’ is that kind of book.

I’m only a few chapters in, but I was compelled to bring it inside and am listening to it.  It is a book I just can’t put down (or in this case, a book I can’t stop listenting to). It isn’t because of the compelling suspense — it is because of the gripping interest.  My undergrad degree is in Agri-Business Management — in theory I was studying to run a food company.  And ultimately, as I firmly believe that wine is food, I suppose that is just what I did.

So now I’m trying to pair the right wine with the book.  It is a pretty heady book — one that requires concentration…one that makes one think…one that makes you question what & why you eat what you eat.  And one that really makes you think about corporate agriculture. 

Now, what wine goes best with this?  Maybe something organically grown?  Or something very commercially grown?  Something huge and aggressive…or something simple, pleasurable & local?  Yeah — I seriously do this.  And what I’ve found is that often, just like a wine will make the food taste better and the food will make the wine taste better, the same holds true for wine and books.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress with The Omnivore’s Dilemma…and I’ll share my finding on the right wine to read with.  Meanwhile, if you have thoughts on this book…or on pairing wine with books, I’d like to hear about it.  And as always, drink charitably — and don’t forget your reading glasses.