July: Vino, Verse, & Vinyl
Vino: Savenniéres
When I first fell in love with wine, it was with red wine--mostly Italian. Not sure why we do this, but because of this, I was closed off to white wines for a while. There are too many incredible white wines, in such a variety, to have a bias against them. White wines are wonderful for scorching summer temperatures, served with a chill and grilled foods (the herbal, citrus, or floral profiles really enhance the caramelized char of grilled veggies or burgers). This month is a special wine, especially if you are someone who may *think* they don’t like white wine. Meet Savenniéres.
Though I just mentioned pairing this to summer, this is a wine that can hold its own in any temperature, heralding from the Loire Valley, Anjou region. Though made with the chenin blanc grape, this wine is grown in a small appellation (wine world word…essentially a location with specific wine rules) that creates a unique profile. Because it is a small region, finding this wine can be difficult and expensive. You may look for Vouvray (though different, there are general similarities). One of my favorite taste profiles in wine is “minerally”, which Savenniéres is and it is a full bodied wine. Often the smells are related to lime blossom (which, oh my… have you ever smelled a lime tree in blossom? I wrote poems about the smell for days after my first encounter) and herbs. It is lovely and full, could anyone do any better?
Verse: Like Water for Chocolate
This novel is all of my favorite things: recipes, relational theory, ancestral evolution, and magical realism. The film adaption is also lovely. I have taught and love both. Franz Roh coined the term magical realism in the early twentieth century, noting that “Humanity seems destined to oscillate forever between devotion to the world of dreams and adherence to the world of reality.” Magic Realism places the magical and the real next to each other, as a way to explore the “real” and the “imaginary” as equals. I could talk for days (and I have for entire semesters) about the power of this type of storytelling, but that won’t necessarily matter for your book club. Yet, if you want to start a magical realism book-club, I want to hear all about it. What matters is that you embrace the joy and pleasure of Laura Esquivel’s writing in this truly delicious tale.
Consider these themes together and discuss what they mean in the novel itself (either amongst characters or the plot or the setting, etc.) and to you (how can you relate?):
Self-Preservation & Self-Growth
Passions unrealized & Violence realized
Food as Community & Food as Magical
Vinyl: "Proof that I Deserve Pleasure"
For those languid, lazy, hot summer nights, when putting on a record and sipping chilled wine is all you can muster. Make sure to add your record selection for the theme over the next week (expires July 29th).
Happy #VVVing. Share your meetings on IG!
Be good,
Amanda
By the way...These monthly write ups are micro versions of topics explored in 1:1 mentoring and group courses. View all info. and register here.
"Writing to Heal" is a 6 week workshop, starting August 11. For the introductory group, I am offering an over 35% discount!
Book a *free *30 minute Wellness Consult with me.
I have blocked out courses through the year...check out the list, there is serious magic brewing, and keep an eye out for registration opening.
