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Book club: Homegrown heroes

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 20 Oct 2022

By
Alexandra Whiting

An illustration of Australian novels with Aussie wine to enjoy with them

Pour a glass, switch your phone on Airplane mode, find a spot in the sun and enjoy some new and old Aussie hits.

There’s nothing like reading a novel that hits home, literally. When the settings, characters and attitudes resonate with your own experiences, it’s hard to put it down. Australian authors tell stories as diverse as our landscapes, but they’re rarely forgettable. Maybe it’s our geographical remoteness, but our local authors aim to leave a mark, as do our local winemakers. So for spring book club we’re pairing brilliant Australian narratives with equally brilliant Australian wine.
Chalmers Pink Fizz

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Pair: A divisive novel and a trending varietal

Sharp, witty, dark, tender and undoubtedly entertaining, Sorrow and Bliss divides people over how they feel about mental health and a simple narrative device (which I won’t reveal, no spoilers here). The story is about Martha, who’s had something “wrong” with her since a teenager, but doesn’t know exactly what, or how to deal with it. A highlight of the book, and source of great comedic writing, is the relationship between Martha and her often-pregnant sister. It’s written by Sydney-based Meg Mason but set in London, and would go great with pet nat champion Chalmers Pink Fizz . It’s unfiltered and dry, much like Mason’s humour.

Pair: A coming of age tale with a decorated red

A welcome addition to the high school curriculum, you don’t have to be a teenager to greatly enjoy this coming of age novel, Jasper Jones. Set in a regional mining town in Western Australia, the story is narrated by 13-year-old Charlie Bucktin who is pulled into a neighbourhood scandal by the outsider Jasper. An award-winning book deserves an award-winning wine, and Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon is a decorated red from an independent winery.
Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

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Pair: Decades of friendship with a proper prosecco

If you’re not in your 70s, The Weekend is a glimpse of what it will be like, and guess what, you’ll be having the same arguments with your closest friend that you have now. They are set in their ways, highly sensitive and know everything about each other, but when one of them is lost, they need to find new ways of being. Set in the hot Christmas break on the NSW Central Coast, there is no better match than Dal Zotto Col Fondo Prosecco. It’s made the way Italian prosecco used to be crafted before industrialisation turned it into mostly cheap fizz made in stainless steel tanks. It might be old school but it’s an alive and kicking sip for anyone who knows good winemaking.

Pair: A turn-of-the-century true(ish) crime and a Yarra pinot

You have to read this classic at least once in your life if for nothing else than a snapshot of 1900s Australia, and police work without the internet, helicopters or iPhones. In a nutshell, Picnic at Hanging Rock is a story of a girl’s school excursion that goes wrong and leaves several school girls lost forever. The volcanically formed Hanging Rock is a real place, just a few kilometres from the great wine region, the Yarra Valley. Oakridge Over The Shoulder Pinot Noir, a Yarra native, is considered a unicorn: an excellent Yarra pinot for half the price they usually are. It’s a liquified example of the Victorian environmental elements, something vividly described in the book. Enjoy!
Oakridge Over The Shoulder Pinot Noir

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Forester Estate Chardonnay

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Pair: A masterpiece and beaut Chardonnay

A masterful classic set in Perth over two decades, 1945-1965. It’s the story of two families, down on their luck post-WWII. Hoping to reduce cost, the Pickles take the Lambs as housemates in their newly inherited house, Cloudstreet, and then, together open a store on the bottom floor. There’s beautiful portrayals of family dynamics and the changing Australian culture over that time. Keeping things in Western Australia, we’ve paired this read with Forester Estate Chardonnay. It’s a toasty chardonnay with a creamy finish, but without a doubt, you’ll notice the fruit before anything else. It’s a pale lemon colour, dry, medium bodied, and an absolute corker.
Want more wine and book pairings? Dive into winter reds and hearty reads.
Authour image
Alexandra WhitingWriter, mum and afternoon spritz enthusiast. Thinks most gatherings should be celebrated with Champagne.
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Hit ListProseccoFun pairingsWineBook ClubSparklingAustralian region
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