A book group with a difference.
“Language is wine upon the lips.” Virginia Woolf
We couldn’t agree more. Which is why we bring the best of both together in events that sup from the cup of contemporary literature and interrogate the flavour notes of modern wines.
Read Between the Wines is a book group with a difference. Simultaneously celebrating the art of wordsmithery and the beauty of wine craft, we pair our book group read with a selection of three choice wines and open the floor to taste, discover and discuss.
How does it work?
Falmouth Book Festival. Exeter Arts Week. Village Halls. Homes. We’ve been reading and drinking in combination all over, but more often than not, the approach is the same.
We start with a wine tasting to whet our whistles, followed by an excerpt reading (by the author themselves if we’re lucky) and discussion of the story, as well as some insights and responses to the text.
Having built up a thirst, we return to the tasting with the last two wines, considering each for its connection to the themes of the story and its own tales to tell.
Finally, a little looser and warmed up, we have more of a free form discussion, delving deeper into the story, the wines and their merits, magic and (maybe) misses.
Tickets include an enthusiastically-led wine tasting of three wines, some erudite literary conversation augmented with exclusive perspectives from the author and critics, and some ever so slightly drunken ramblings from the rest of us.
“It's been so fascinating to think in terms of the story's flavours and characters and map that to the wine in the glass. Imagine having a pairing on the back cover of every book! I'd like to do that with the novel I'm writing now. 'Pairs well with a Xinamavro'. That would be brilliant .” Gurnaik Johal
Stories we’ve read between
the wines…
We’ve been lucky enough to pair some delightful wines with some wonderful stories over the last year or so. Here’s just a taste of what you can expect:
‘Yoruba Man Walking’, by Bernardine Evaristo, paired with: Vinho Verde, Pinot Noir, Barista Pinotage
(Roseland Festival, 2024)
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‘To Enter the Garden’, by Leila Aboulela, paired with: Ke Bonta Cortese, Kabellend Cinsault, Bonarda Recoleta
(Espressini, Falmouth, 2023)
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‘The Arrival’, by Gurnaik Johal, paired with:
Clare Valley Riesling, George Dubœuf Fleurie, Thymiopoulos Xinomavro
(Falmouth Book Festival, October 2022, Exeter Art Week, June 2023)
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‘Maintenance’, by Sussie Anie, paired with:
Faustino Rivero Ulecia Albarino, Malsenda Crianza Ribera del Duero, Chateau Perron Lalande de Pomerol
(The Poly, Falmouth, March 2023)
“A fabulous evening, fascinating insight, delighful wines.”
Read Between the Wines attendee, December 2023
Read Between the Wines: Private hire
Have a big birthday, anniversary, or life marker coming up and looking for a unique way to celebrate? We organise bespoke Read Between the Wines evenings for small groups, tailored to your preferences and needs. Choose your favourite author, wine or place and we’ll design the night around it, provide one-off invitations, word-wine gift bags, personalised follow-up notes and more.
Who are we?
Lucy Howdle: A wine enthusiast with a passion for provenance, Lucy has spent the last ten years turning a wine drinking habit into an education. She has spent sabbaticals in France, cycled the vineyards of Bordeaux and taken her wine and spirit education exams in an attempt to formalise her passion for vinification into something useful.
Clare Howdle is a writer and book lover. Involved in the Southwest book and writing community for many years she’s run regular reading nights, hosted showcases at festivals and taught professional writing at Falmouth University (not to mention run creative content agency Stranger Collective), all to feed her fire for wordsmithery.
Read Between the Wines came about when Clare and Lucy were talking one day (over wine, of course) and Clare started wittering about how well-crafted stories affect each of us in different ways, with unique flavours, or notes to pick up on. When Lucy pointed out that wine was the same, an increasingly drunken conversation about the synergies between storytelling and winecraft ensued.
They decided it might be fun to bring the two things together, so Read Between the Wines was born.
As well as open-to-all Read Between the Wines events, we host private parties, book launches, festivals and corporate workshops. Get in touch to find out how you could get a little wine & words magic in your life.