Women's Fiction and Cline White Cashmere

Last week I attended a fabulous event that perfectly catered to two of my longtime interests: wine and women’s fiction. Especially now, with the publishing date of my eBook quickly approaching, I was particularly thrilled to go to an author reading at the Book Passage in Corte Madera organized by Chick Lit + Wine. Cline Cellars provided the wines.

Sisters Danielle and Sonya English launched ChickLitandWine.com in 2010 to provide book reviews with wine pairings. What an amazing concept for women who appreciate a great book and a wonderful wine. (Like me!)

While sipping on Cline’s White Cashmere (a delicious blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Muscat Canelli and Viognier), I listened to the author readings by Meg Donohue (All the Summer Girls), Gretchen Berg (I Have Iraq in My Shoe), Seré Princeton Halverson (The Underside of Joy) and Libby Mercer (Unmasking Maya) and thought about two things….what portion of my manuscript I will someday read to an audience and what wine I would pair with my first novel, Where I Want to Be.

With so many real wine references in my novel, it’s hard to imagine picking just one wine that fits the entire story. The main character, shy and insecure Olivia, has a thirst for wine knowledge. With a little encouragement from her friends, she enrolls in a wine program in the Napa Valley and starts trying new things like online dating, playing bocce ball and sitting alone at a restaurant bar. She makes new friends and does a lot of wine tasting while learning to embrace change and live her life more fully.

Because I have enjoyed many different wines while writing this novel, I am more likely to compare the characters to specific wine varieties. Olivia is most similar to a young Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that needs a good amount of time to open up in the glass but has an underlying strength and complexity. Winemaker and world traveler Charlie resembles Cabernet Franc—luscious and forward with a spicy kick. Grace, who is training to be a sommelier, is intense and effervescent like Champagne. And social media specialist McKayla is zesty and bright like Sauvignon Blanc.

I hope you will download my eBook and read it while enjoying a nice glass of wine once it is available on Amazon. For more info about the release date, please check out Facebook.com/AuthorCortney and follow me on Twitter @AuthorCortney. 

P.S. The Cline Cellars White Cashmere is only $18/bottle and it’s the wine that gives back. To date, Cline has donated over $150K to breast cancer organizations. Drink up and read more women’s fiction!

Looking for a tasty white wine? Reach for Cline!

If you’ve ever driven up to Napa via I-121 by way of I-37, you’ve passed Cline Cellars on the left in Sonoma. There’s a sign just north of the winery entrance on which a clever rhyming phrase is always posted. A lot rhymes with Cline (other than wine, which is very convenient).

Cline is probably most known for Zinfandel, but they offer many different wines. With the arrival of Spring, the winery has just released some distinct and delicious white wines. The following two boast the Green String stamp on the label, which is Cline’s commitment to natural and sustainable farming.

The 2012 Sonoma Coast Cool Climate Pinot Gris (on sale for only $11.05/bottle) has a richness of fruit and beautiful opulence that you might think it’s seen some oak. But it was produced exclusively in stainless steel, preserving its naturally vivacious acidity and elegance. Green apple and grapefruit aromas greet the nose while Asian pear and citrus linger on the palate long after the initial taste. It’s divine on its own, but this wine is a perfect pairing for springtime vegetables and seafood. At this price, it’s definitely worth having on hand!

The 2011 Sonoma Coast Marsanne Roussanne ($22/bottle) is like a tropical vacation for the taste buds. It is a sunny straw color in the glass with aromas of honey blossom and tropical fruit. The palate is dominated by juicy pineapple with lingering mineral notes. This is a blend of 76% Marsanne and 24% Roussanne, two varieties that you don’t see much in California. (There are less than 250 combined acres of these grapes planted in the Golden State.) With exciting acidity and a delicate weight in the mouth, it would be amazing on an warm day with a Nicoise salad with seared ahi tuna or fish tacos.

The 2012 North Coast Viognier is slighter deeper in color and flavor but has equally appealing acidity. It smells of peach and nectarine. The palate offers ripe stone fruit character, minerals, and a touch of beeswax. It is medium-bodied and has an attractive fullness that finishes with lemon peel and lime zest. This pure Viognier is complex and incredibly easy to drink. It would be an awesome match for triple-cream cheeses, English pea risotto, or roast chicken. This wine should be available soon!

These wines were received for sample purposes. Please visit the Cline website for more info about ordering and tasting room hours. Cheers!