Wine lovers just might all be “Hedonists in the Cellar.” I picked up Jay McInerney’s book of the same title on the return leg of my holiday in London after devouring “Eating Animals,” which just might have turned me semi-vegitarian, if there is such a thing.
But I digress.
I’m midway through McInerney’s compilation of essays, and while I knew it had been in circulation for years, it wasn’t until reading his bimonthly column in The Wall Street Journal that I felt compelled to pick up a copy – yes, even at 12.99 pounds for a paperback.
But let’s get to the heart of this post. There many similarities between my world and this novel. First, McInerney compares Condrieu, a white from the Rhone, to Gauguin, the artist whose exhibit I had just viewed at the Tate Modern in London. McInerney also quotes Sergio Espisito, the proprietor of Italian Wine Merchants in New York, in his passage regarding Amarone.
The writer merged his passions for literature and wine, quite like Noble Rot’s author. McInerney’s eloquence forces me to cling to his every word. And while I might disagree with some of his preferences, particularly those from California, I can’t help but respect the writer and wine connaisseur, no matter how much he tries to refute the latter title he has been awarded.
The book is a quick and educational read. Learning about different producers from various regions makes me want to seek out the wines and sample them myself. And perhaps I will. But first, I’ve got some more reading to do…
