Wine Club: A Monthly Guide to Swirling, Sipping, and Pairing with Friends

Starting with cabernet sauvignon in January and ending with champagne in December, Petrosky (Zero Proof) lays out in this chatty handbook a 12-month plan for DIY wine tastings. Each chapter explores the history and flavor profile of a wine category, with sampling suggestions ranging in price and geography. Throughout, Petrosky shares breezy and erudite tidbits, including the importance of terroir, or environmental influences on flavor; how to set up a proper ice bucket (hint: two parts ice, one part water); and how to fight nasal fatigue. Easy small-plate recipes for pairing round out each chapter, many as simple as serving edamame with smoked sea salt while sipping riesling. More ambitious dishes include turkey pot stickers with chili oil (to be served with pinot noir), goat cheese and roasted grape crostini (with zinfandel), and spicy pineapple and mango granita (with sauvignon blanc). Tips on the logistics of hosting one’s own wine club include sharing costs and using individual (and opaque) spit cups. Petrosky recommends guests “taste, test, sip, and sniff,” then write and compare notes, before enjoying a full glass. Whether her plan is followed strictly or not, many will enjoy this lively introduction to the world of wine. (May)