The Bookworm project pairs two of my favorite things in life, books and wine. It’s not unlike pairing food and wine in that I look for areas of congruence and/or contrast, always in search of harmony.

The pairings I create can be inspired by many things in a book – a character’s personality, the literary genre, the author, the writing style, where the novel takes place, or my final impression after finishing a book. The more you practice, the more creative pairing possibilities you’ll discover. Ultimately, the project is about the transportive power of a well-told story and how pairing it with a thoughtfully-made wine can make the experience even more enjoyable.

I use the Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s “Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine” when I write my tasting note for each Bookworm issue. I recently received my WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, passing with merit.

While my wine education is a recent interest, my love for books and reading is life-long. Some of my best childhood memories are of quiet times curled up with a blanket and a good book, staying up late to read well beyond bedtime. (Now, as an adult, getting lost in a book remains a simple pleasure for me.)

I mostly review fiction, but will occasionally branch out into non-fiction, memoirs, poetry, graphic novels and cookbooks. And I’d love to hear from you if you have a favorite book to suggest for a pairing.

And finally, a fun fact: the spiral corkscrew on a wine bottle opener is called the “worm,” hence the title for my project, Bookworm.

Cheers!

Jennifer Simonson