I love to read. And – shocker – I love to drink wine! So I decided to do a mash-up of some of my favorite books paired with some excellent wines! Bonus: it’s still Women’s History Month and ALL of these books are written by women, so BAM – makes even more sense!

And guess what? I was even on tee-vee talking about it on FOX32’s “Good Day Chicago” on Friday, March 28 and you can see it here.

Clean Slate Riesling Paired “Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan This is a sweet, fun read that tells the story of a newly single mom whose life needs a reset. Over the summer, she meets a potential new partner in a most embarrassing way, and despite this, she opens her heart and mind to new possibilities. It’s funny, it’s touching, it’s relatable and it’s a great “escape” read.

I like this book with this wine, because – duh – Clean Slate Riesling is the perfect “reset” wine, right?! This dry Riesling hails from the Mosel region of Germany, and it’s not too sweet! In fact, I would call it juicy, before I would call it sweet. It’s’ got crackling acidity to balance out all that juicy tropical fruit and if you’re adding some food to your reading fest, this is the bomb with Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese. It stands up to all those savory, umami (sometimes deliciously salty) flavors like a champ. Bonus: $12! (Find it at Binny’s across Chicagoland).

Pro Tip: to determine if a Riesling is sweet or dry, look at the alcohol level. The lower the alc, the sweeter the wine. (This one’s 10.5%, so just a kiss of sweetness.)

Bodegas Garzon Albariño Paired with “Care and Feeding” by Laura Woolever Laurie Woolever came up in the food and restaurant world alongside two sometimes-overpowering and often controversial men in the industry: Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. The former was famously spotlighted for his terrible behavior (in so many ways) while the latter was a mercurial but beloved chef, restaurateur, and ultimately inspirational global food traveler who met with a tragic ending. Woolever traces her own journey in the industry, trying to carve out her own space in this male-dominated world with honesty, humor and insight.

The ideal wine is Bodegas Garzon Albariño from Uruguay, for its quirky, unusual nature and its slightly salty signature. Bodegas Garzon is one of the Uruguay’s largest and best-known wineries, perhaps recognized for its Tannat. But Uruguay is producing some killer white wines and this is one of them! It’s high-acid, with a zippy freshness and has that subtle saline note that kisses Albariño’s calling card. If you like Sauv Blanc, or Pinot Grigio, I think you’ll love this. And it’s only $17! (Find it at Binny’s across Chicagoland.)

Champagne Palmer “La Reserve” Paired with “The Winemaker’s Wife” by Kristen Harmel If you like historical fiction and Champagne, this book is for you! The story starts at the dawn of World War II in the Champagne region. The Germans arrive, and all of a sudden the war is on the doorstep of one of the most revered wine regions in the world.

Between navigating the German army, and continuing the harvest and winemaking, many members of the Champagne community unify to support the French Resistance. Meanwhile, a present-day story unfolds involving a French grandmother and her American granddaughter … and how they travel down the path that intersects with World War II events in Champaign. If you liked Kirstin Hannah’s “The Nightingale,” you’ll love this book, too.

And of course, there is only one wine to pair with this book with Champagne! Specifically, Champagne Palmer’s “La Reserve.” Champagne Palmer was started in 1947 by seven French families who had been growing and selling grapes to other Champagne houses. They joined together and their combined 543 acres of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards are the source for some of the most elegant and fresh Champagne. It spends four years aging in-bottle, on its lees, building beautiful flavors of fresh-baked pie crust and brioche, alongside fresh, jubilant green apple flavors. $50 and that is a pretty great deal for a Champagne of this caliber. (At Binny’s across Chicagoland.)

Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon Paired with “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon This riveting historical mystery follows Martha Ballard, a Maine midwife in 1789, who is summoned to help solve the case of a mysterious man found dead under a frozen river. The layers of this story are as rich as the layers in this Chilean Cabernet!

Root 1 comes from the Maipo Valley in Chile, which is known for its rich, full-bodied Cabernets. It’s aged for 10 months in a mix of American and French oak, and you’ll find it as juicy as a good mystery! Plus, it’s the first winery in Chile to be certified 100% sustainable by Wines of Chile and – it’s an affordalicious $12! (At Uncork It and Hops & Grapes in the Chicago area).

Happy drinking and reading, friends! A good glass of wine is as hard to put down as a great book!