Hey friends!
Heat. Thunderstorms. More heat.
I surrendered to the AC, poured a glass, and cracked a book. Boo approved.
South Dakota has been overacting like it’s auditioning for a role in a disaster movie—complete with heat waves, thunderclaps, and mood swings that would make a fae prince jealous.
So Boo and I did what any emotionally stable wine lovers would do: we hunkered down, opened something delicious, and dove headfirst into fantasy worlds, magical chaos, and twisty thrillers. These are our picks for Books & Bottles with Boo: August Edition, featuring the stories (and sips) that got us through the storm.
📖 What’s a Library Vintage?
A library vintage is a wine that a winery intentionally holds back and re-releases later, after it’s aged beautifully in optimal conditions. Think of it like a reissued classic novel—familiar, but deeper and richer with time.
Expect:
- Softer structure
- Deeper, more nuanced flavors
- A little extra elegance
- And honestly, a lot of storytelling in every sip
🍷 Our Fantasy-Fueled Book & Bottle Pairings
🤖 Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Genre: Apocalyptic LitRPG, heart, chaos, cats
Pair it with: Principessa di Banfi
Carl makes me laugh, cry, and feel things I didn’t ask for. He and I have a shared philosophy: if the world’s ending, save the cats first. You need something versatile and royal. Principessa di Banfi is Boo-approved—because if Princess Donut were a wine, this would be it.
Boo has a new role model in Princess Donut. Thank goodness she doesn’t have magic missiles or a dinosaur to ride—or we’d all be in trouble.
🕵️♂️ The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Genre: Urban fantasy, detective noir, magical mayhem
Pair it with: Pinot Noir (like Renaissance)
Harry Dresden is chaos in a trench coat. His world is gritty, sarcastic, and weirdly emotional. Pinot Noir, especially something like Renaissance, gives the exact right blend of elegance and drama.
The girls—Luna and Astrid—have officially declared Mister their book boyfriend. They curl up next to the pages like he might show up in real life.
👑 A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy romance, fae courts, emotional chaos
Pair it with: Gewürztraminer or Grüner Veltliner
Starts off all “Beauty and the Beast,” then absolutely wrecks your emotions. You’ll want something perfumed, layered, and refreshing to balance the trauma. Gewürz will soothe your soul; Grüner will keep you sharp.
🖤 Verity by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Psychological suspense, emotional whiplash
Pair it with: Brunello di Montalcino
Dark, twisted, and keeps you guessing until the last page. Brunello has the same slow-building intensity—structured, serious, and best consumed while muttering “What the actual hell just happened?”
🌓 The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Genre: Mythic fantasy, horror, dreams & dark truths
Pair it with: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Dark. Dreamy. Dense. Gaiman’s Sandman is sprawling and surreal, with big themes and even bigger emotions. You need a wine that’s steeped in history and blended with intention—just like the narrative.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is bold, elegant, and layered with earthy complexity. It’s wine with myth in its bones—perfect for a story that walks between realms.
Yes, he’s controversial. But the storytelling? Legendary.
🐾 Boo’s Bonus Pick:
“Cat Among the Pigeons” by Agatha Christie
Genre: Cozy mystery with feline energy
Pair it with: Crémant de Loire or sparkling rosé
Sharp, classic, and delightfully proper—with just enough chaos to keep you on your toes. Boo insists sparkling wine is non-negotiable here.
📚 Book Club Tip
If you’re hosting a book club, bring a library vintage and say “Oh, it’s just something I pulled from the cellar.”
If you don’t have a cellar, just chill a bottle and fake confidence. Pairing wine with fiction is an art—not a science.
Want More?
Books & Bottles with Boo is now a monthly series—because we have thoughts, tastes, and too many books. Got a favorite read you want us to pair? Drop a comment or DM. We love a good challenge (and an excuse to buy more wine).
Cheers,
– Rachel
