Book pairings with wine are as natural as watching a summer beach sunset with someone you love. Both invite us to slow down and pay attention. As your mind explores the nuances of world-building, of conversational banter, of all the words that aren’t even on the page (but simmering in your heart as you progress through chapters), there is a sip of wine that can seal the moment as a sensory memory. The kind of memory that builds into a comfort. Sherry and books are a particular go-to duo of mine. Sherry’s layered nuances and versatile styles lend themselves to all manner of literature.
Why Books and Wine Create Such a Natural Connection
Our minds are no less complex than a civilization of stories. We fantasize, we use logic, we fear and tear through anxiety-like tissues when fighting a cold. We sometimes do all of this at once. We dive deep into characters, their arcs, their motivations, their relationships. We are devastated by the death of a hero, their tragic demise into bad decisions, as well as the inevitable natural ending of a beloved series. Books and wines, after all, invite us to reveal layers, create memories, and transport us somewhere else—yet exactly where we want to be. No one should experience that journey without something special in the glass.
The best wine to drink while reading can be as varied and versatile as you want it to be. Are you a hopeless romantic who cares not about the judgment of more serious literary wine pairing advocates? Excellent. Does the idea of reading and wine pairing sound like a group activity, and perhaps you are always on the search for book club wine ideas? Outstanding. Do you actively seek to find books to pair with wine, having a penchant for a certain bottle or style? Super fun. Or perhaps pairing is just your way of expressing your creativity via BookTok and the socials? Love it.
What is the first pairing that springs to your mind?
More of a movie enthusiast? Discover our selection of classic films that feature Sherry wines and explore some memorable appearances of Sherry on the big screen: https://lustau.es/en/blog/top-5-movies-where-sherry-plays-a-role/
One book, one Lustau product: Literary Pairing Ideas
Rather than matching wines to genres, I like to pair them with atmosphere, character, and emotion. Sometimes a single bottle feels as though it was waiting for a particular story.
I have compiled a short list of some excellent reads that are perfect Lustau book pairing options, and it was difficult to narrow down. There are far too many ideas.
But if you’d like to revisit some haiku and Lustau sherry pairings from a previous blog, click below:
To begin, we swim. Let us explore Manzanilla Pasada de Sanlúcar. It’s a solera consisting of 80 casks, which are aged in Manuel Cuevas Jurado’s bodegas on “Calle Trabajadero” (Trabajadero St.) in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. With its delightfully aromatic reminiscences of green apples and sea breezes, we channel an ocean tale:
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a classic long poem about a salty sea captain cursed to tell his tragic story to others. I like how the dual tone of an older manzanilla, both offering its ocean umami and its aged lessons, mixes into the story of an elder passing on knowledge to a youthful ear. It’s redemptive. It’s got horror. It’s got life lessons. It’s got a boat.
The Fino del Puerto en Rama sourced from a bodega in El Puerto de Santa María is a sherry full of “flor” and diesel-like aromas on the nose, with iodine hints. It begs for something a touch more modern, fresh, and adventurous, and this book and wine pairing will deliver:
The Adventures of Amina el-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty is the first book of a soon-to-be trilogy of magic and mayhem set on the high seas. In this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts, and ancient mysteries, our fearless leader navigates the maritime network linking the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia. From port to port out of the Indian Ocean, her scandalous past alongside some seriously suspect cohorts guarantees a good time.
“The excellent thing about living along an ocean of a hundred different kingdoms is being able to commit crimes in one and flee very quickly to another.”
The 125 Amontillado Solera del Castillo is bottled from only 20 casks and has been untouched for 17 years until recently. It’s a bit like unearthing treasure–sacred, storied, and to be enjoyed in short story form. One pour, one story. An entire collection pairs to the entirety of the bottle. Read at your own pace. Intense and vigorous, extremely complex and full of nuances. Aromas of furniture polish, varnish, and fine woods over a background of wafer biscuit, dried apricots, nougat, and sweet spices. Sharp, dry, very saline, pungent, with iodine notes, and a smoky and toasted finish beg for the genius of Borges.
The Aleph and Other Stories by Jorge Luis Borges is full of philosophical puzzles and supernatural surprises, with stories containing some of Borges’s most fully realized human characters in his lexicon. With uncanny insight, he takes us inside the minds of an unrepentant Nazi, an imprisoned Mayan priest, fanatical Christian theologians, a woman plotting vengeance on her father’s killer, and a man awaiting his assassin in a Buenos Aires guest house.
“There’s no need to build a labyrinth when the entire universe is one.”
The Lustau VORS Palo Cortado is an exceptional expression of one of rarest and most complex styles of wine, originating from a meticulous selection among the oldest solera casks and drawn from just 7 casks. With more than 30 years of average aging, the extraordinary concentration and elegance of this wine create a truly unforgettable experience. Vibrant pecan nuts, noble woods, citrus peel, spices, toffee, dark chocolate, and walnuts combine with a silky texture and remarkable length, leaving a beautifully persistent finish. For this wine and book pairing, and to highlight the near immortality of the solera aging system:
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow is an immortal love story with a quest about a lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the contemporary scholar-historian sent back through time to make sure she solidifies said legend. This is not your average time-traveling, historical fiction, medieval romp. But like the forever aging of the Palo Cortado (essentially a sword written in chalk) Solera System, this tale will also age well.
And finally, if you haven’t linked Agatha Christie to sherry wine pairing ideas, it’s okay. There’s still time to do so. Not only does the great dame of cozy murder mysteries enjoy mentioning sherry on multiple occasions (up to 15 separate times in “A Murder is Announced,” alone), but the pairing with a pot of tea alongside is truly an experience, ahem, for the bookish. If you decide to spend an evening with Agatha Christie, here are two Lustau sherry pairings worth trying:
Three Act Tragedy with a pour of Lustau Oloroso Pata de Gallina. This exclusive solera has only 38 casks. Aged in the charming bodega “El Aljibe” in Jerez de la Frontera, it’s an exclusive taste that is perfect for Hercule Poirot’s private invitation to host his very own sherry Party:
“Poirot twinkled. “You insist that I, too, shall be active? Eh bien. It shall be as you wish. Only me, I shall not leave this place. I am very comfortable here. But I will tell you what I will do: I will give the party – the Sherry Party – that is fashionable, is it not?”
A Murder is Announced with a pour of Lustau Deluxe Cream Capataz Andrés. Each component of this blend–Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez wines–is aged individually in its own solera in Jerez de la Frontera. The concentrated aromas of smoky wood, dates, dry figs, and fruits should pair splendidly with the certain mention of a “Delicious Death” chocolate cake in the novel.
Beyond the Glass: How Sherry and Vermouth Tell Their Own Stories
The solera system is the perfect metaphor for a story built through time. The plot is familiar, but each sip carries just a touch of unique personality born from its blend of biological and/or oxidative aging, like voices expressing themselves. “Flor” reminds the reader and the drinker that vibrant lives leave lasting impressions. The nutty qualities inherent in oxidative aging hint at a personality built to mature and evolve for years to come.
And vermouth (with its blend of botanicals) hints at places traveled, traditions carried, showcases a bitterness to endure, and balances a sweetness designed for adaptability. Just like books, layers, complexity, and time are inherent to every drop.
Reading rituals: When to Enjoy Lustau with a Book
First, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Certainly, the avid reader knows the lesson all too well: once you’re sat with a book in hand, it can be tricky to remember to re-enter the land of the living and stay balanced. You’ll want to set a proper mise-en-place. Key things: water and/or tea, snacks, a glass and bottle for refills of your preferred wine for reading, (plus a cat to purr by your side). Whether you’re preparing for a quiet evening at home, are stealing away from the bustle of family on a weekend afternoon, or are filling the time while en route somewhere, there’s only one true danger. Don’t forget yourself…for too long. Truth be told, the wine pairing can be extra distracting if you’ve got appointments. Set an alarm if you must. Then you can truly delve into the story and enjoy your reading rituals.
How to Create Your Own Lustau Book Pairing at Home
Wine pairing for book clubs or at home does not have to destroy too much of your actual reading time. If you aren’t able to source the exact wine, consider altering your inspiration tactics. Try pairing the personality of your favorite character, or the general setting. Consider what folks from a particular region enjoy drinking and explore the options. I personally love pairing the setting as well as the season.
Perhaps you are in a wooded setting, and the author has a beautiful way of describing the trees, the foliage, and the breezes full of salt & bramble. Maybe a sip of something that reminds one of the sea beyond a horizon of forest. Or maybe the author is burying you in earthy mushrooms, hidden caves, and sunken treasures in a mossy wood. A sip of an older, oaked, and oxidative sherry takes that one paragraph or two and nestles it forever. The nuance in a great tale is a brilliant pairing to the complexity of a ready-to-drink wine, any day of the week.
A Final Thought from Lucas
Chantal has shared some of her favorite pairings, but the next memorable pairing is yours to discover. One of the things we love most about sherry wine is that it rewards curiosity. There are no fixed rules that determine which wine belongs with which story—only opportunities to explore. Whether you begin with one of Chantal’s recommendations or create a pairing entirely your own, we invite you to approach it the same way you would a great book: slowly, with an open mind, and ready to be surprised. Sometimes the most memorable pairing is the one you never expected.
Happy reading, and salud.
