I bet you were expecting a nice little article where I talk about myself as a writer and the craft that I love so very much. While that does sound fun (I mean, what’s not to like about discussing either topic?), I am truly a Romance reader above all things.
That said, I’d like to raise a very serious topic. As a Californian, I am appalled by the lack of attention toward drinking the correct wine with one’s romance. This is simply…wrong! An abomination. An act against nature herself.
Don’t let food get all of the pairing attention! Romance deserves the right wine just as much as a filet mignon or tasty chocolate soufflé. So, let’s begin with the basics.
First, to pick the correct wine you should consider the following things:
1. Subgenre (Historical, Paranormal, Contemporary, Cozy, Erotica, etc…)
2. Writing Style (Snarky, Dramatic, Contemporary, Traditional)
3. Indie or Traditionally Published
4. Level of Steam (White Gloves, Respectable Fun, Oh Maybe My Mom Shouldn’t Read This, I’m Blushing, and Is That Even Legal?)
5. Main Male Character’s Primary Traits (Because it’s all about the hotty.)
Now, since there are almost as many possible combinations of these elements as there are wines, I’ll focus on a few examples.
Example 1: Novel is Katie MacAlister’s, Sex, Lies, and Vampires
Subgenre: Paranormal/Writing Style: Snarky-Contemporary/Novel is Traditionally Published/Level of Steam: I’m Blushing/Main Male Character’s Primary Traits: Dark and Brooding
Ideal Wine Pairing: A Carneros Pinot Noir (Sebastiani Winery, Artesa, Domaine Carneros, or Smoking Loon are my fav’s.)
First, anything with a vampire in it requires red wine. Period. Let’s get that out of the way.
Second, a lighter wine is always best with Snark. (If you get too snockered, you might miss the jokes.)
Third, I find that wines with a smoky bouquet and currant undertones go extremely well with dark and brooding heroes. I have no idea why, but they do.
Example 2: Novel is ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE WITH…A GOD? (Well, what do ya know? That’s mine!)
Subgenre: Paranormal/Writing Style: Snarky/Novel is Indie/Steam: Oh Maybe My Mom Shouldn’t Read This/Main Male Character’s Primary Traits: Dark and Brooding
Ideal Wine Pairing: Viognier. This aromatic Rhone varietal comes from a temperamental grape with vines that don’t mature for 15-20 years (i.e. takes a long time to mature—just like my hero.) In France, it is generally blended into Chardonnays as the residual sugars cut tartness. (My fav’s are DuMol, Cold Heaven, and E. Guigal Condrieu.)
First, there are no vampires in this novel, and there is a boatload of Snark. This calls for a white wine!
Second, this novel moves extremely fast, and our hero, though dark and brooding, is a bit of an over-the-top alpha. So, since Viognier has a lot of personality and will sweetening things up, it will complement our hero and novel pace nicely.
Finally, the sexual tension can get a bit overwhelming at times, and since Viognier should be savored chilled, this should help your body keep cool as things heat up!
Well, I certainly hope you’ve enjoyed this and that the next time you pick up a good romance novel, you’ll treat yourself to not just a good wine, but the right wine!
Bon Appetit!
Mimi