Welcome to a new (semi) regular series, Read Between the Wines, in which I review a book and suggest a wine pairing (it is a tough job but someone's gotta do it). I'm an avid reader, often reading one to two books a week. I mostly lean toward contemporary fiction, suspense, and, of course, stories that revolve around food and wine, both fiction and non.
This past week I read 'The Heat Wave' by Kate Riordan. I hadn't heard of the novel or the author before, but it was one of those one day Kindle deals, and when I saw it took place in the South of France, I figured what the heck and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did!
The novel takes place between the early 1990s and flashbacks to the 1970s. The narrator, Sylvie, grew up in the South of France and lived with her husband and young daughter there. In present day London, now-divorced Sylvie receives a note that there has been a fire in the vacant home, and she must travel with her younger daughter, Emma, back to France for the first time in years. It is clear that something happened in the family over a decade ago, something related to her older daughter who is now missing from the story.
The novel is very moody -- as a reader you can almost feel the oppressive heat of southern France and hear the whir of the cicadas. It becomes clear early on that something isn't right at the house -- strange things are happening in what is supposed to be an abandoned home -- and the story unfolds as Sylvie has flashbacks to her former life there, with her then-husband and auspiciously absent older daughter.
There are definitely a few surprises throughout the novel, although some felt a tad forced. The ending, while satisfying, is a little rushed. Overall I enjoyed the novel and was hooked enough to eagerly read through it fairly quickly.
The obvious wine pairing is rosé, but it works for a reason. Sylvie describes drinking rosé throughout the novel, served icy cold to combat the heat. The novel briefly mentions the vineyards planted around the home that is central to the story; they're identified as carignan but not much else is mentioned. Furthermore, we know the story is based in southern France, but the exact location is vague. Rosés from this region can be made from several varieties, often blended, although they usually stick to one style -- pale salmon in color, dry, high in acidity, notes of fresh red fruits, lower in alcohol -- these are meant to be refreshing and highly drinkable. Common grapes in the blend include grenache, syrah, mouvedre, cinsault, and yes, carignan -- grapes that can flourish in the warmer coastal Mediterranean climate. Provence is the region we often associate with these wines, but production really stretches from the southwest, near Bordeaux, along the coast to the Rhone Valley. A rosé from the Languedoc (a large wine producing region in southern France) would be the most likely to include carignan in the blend. A quick Google search brought up a number of California producers making rosé from carignan as well.
For my pairing, I veered away from searching for something carignan-based and instead went with a classic Provencal rosé -- Domaine Tempier mouvedre-based rosé. Pricier than most rosés on the market and considered one of the most age-worthy, Domaine Tempier is a classic producer in the Bandol region of Provence. It is worth seeking out both their rosé and rouge and stowing them away for a few years (or more). When you finally pop open the rosé, serve with a bouillabaisse with a hearty dollop of garlic aioli on the side (this pairing is especially effective with an ocean view, but poolside or on a deck or balcony will do in a pinch).
Anything by Peter Mayle would also be a well-suited pairing for this wine, especially the novel A Good Year, on which my favorite wine movie of all time is based.
I love a good rosé, and not just because it rhymes so neatly with "all day." While it can still be a very serious wine, more often I associate rosé with summertime, a day spent kayaking, sharing a bottle with girlfriends -- a sense of celebrating the everyday joys we encounter in life.
Cabbie also enjoys a refreshing rosé now and then.
Comments