As promised a couple of weeks ago, I’m going to pop in from time to time with recommendations for delicious Rosés to spend your wine budget on. What I didn’t tell you then, is that I might pair some of the wines with books. It’s probably obvious, but two of the things I do all year, is drink Rosé and read, a lot. I read everything from the most classic to the most current novels, biographies, autobiographies, and I’m known to go through cookbooks cover to cover. A few years ago I signed up for Kindle Unlimited with Amazon, and it’s not only been a great bargain, but I’ve discovered a veritable buttload (technical term often applied to the amount of grapes one has picked, or books on the to read list ) of independent authors that might have passed me by otherwise. One of those is Keith A. Pearson. More about him in a minute. So, as much as I read, and drink Rosé, all year long, there’s something about summer reading and sipping that comes with extra ease. Whether you’re by the pool, on a vacation, or simply taking a day off to drink and read surrounded by your cats (highly recommended). So, I present you here, a terrific book and the Rosé I suggest drinking with it.
I can dig a Rosé made from nearly any grape if it’s done properly. Not surprisingly Stoller Family Estate in Oregon’s Willamette Valley produces their Rosé from Pinot Noir, one of the classic Rosé grapes in a multitude of regions. Stoller is a stalwart Willamette Valley winery, the region is a Pinot paradise, so Pinot Noir for their Rosé is the clear choice. In short if you see their label, you’re money is going towards a well considered wine.
Stoller 2023 Pinot Noir Rosé ($28)
The fruit for this wine was intentionally farmed to produce Rosé. It’s composed entirely of Pinot Noir. This is an elegant wine and that starts from the gorgeous light pink hue. Strawberry and white peach aromas and flavors are joined by a little kiss of vanilla. Bits of clementine are evident on the finish which is persistent and refreshing, begging you back for additional sips. Everything about this offering makes it clear that Rosé is an important piece of the Stoller story. The total sum of this wine’s parts make it the perfect companion so sip alongside a great summer read.
No Easy Deeds - Keith A. Pearson ($12.99 Physical, $3.99 Kindle, $0.00 Kindle Unlimited)
I paired it with the latest release from bestselling British Author Keith A. Pearson. Some years ago I was on a wine trip in Italy. I had some downtime and had finished the book I was already reading, when I left on my trip. A quick pop unto Amazon advised that I’d really like Keith’s books, so I took a shot. Some years later I’ve read everything he’s released. They run the gamut of time travel, rom-com, humorous fantasy and more. What’s always evident is a lot of great humor. I found his latest to be incredibly enjoyable. I’ve genuinely loved all of as his prior novels and No Easy Deeds stands among my favorites, with ease. It’s loaded with somewhat quirky characters, a fast moving plot and humor. If you’re a fan of British culture (or the 90’s in general) it’s strewn with all manner of pop culture references from early 1990’s England, when the story occurs. Perhaps the single biggest thing that’s drawn me to Keith’s books over the years is the characters he creates. By and large, they’re immediately likeable and knowable, but more than that, there’s a humanity and a depth to them. In many ways, his books are a lot like a well made bottle of Rosé; easy to like right off, but hang around and you’ll begin to see the nuances. Some of Keith’s books are time travel adventures, some are not. No Easy Deeds, which promises to be the first in a series of 5 novels, grazes up against time travel in a suggestive way. It has the comical aspect down, and includes an affable central character you’ll want to root for because you can relate to him. A decent amount of it takes place in a Real Estate office and he’s spot-on at nailing interoffice relationships. In short it’s a fun, engaging read and when it’s over you’ll likely head to Amazon for one of his 17 other novels. Or if you’re like me and you’ve read them all you’ll be counting down the time for the follow-up to arrive. In short the book and the wine are each wonderful on their own, but they’re even better together. You’ll certainly be chuffed if you enjoy them side by side.
If you need a recommendation for which of his books to read next, message me, I’m happy to suggest one. The same goes for Stoller, if you try the Rosé and want to stick your nose further into their portfolio, give me a shout for a suggestion.