411 on Books, Authors & Publishing

There are plenty of books about wine that reveal what types of foods pair well with specific grape varietals and labels, but here’s something quite different and, perhaps, even more fun. Substitute the food with a book of fictional short stories that were written specifically for wine lovers!

“Short Stories to Enjoy with Wine” is Stephen Kristof’s new release that is sure to please wine enthusiasts and fiction readers. This first book in a three-part series is packed with seventeen short stories and novelettes that are as interesting and easy to digest as the wine that goes with them. The stories span a wide stretch of fiction genres, including romance, adventure, fantasy, crime, lifestyles of the ultra-rich, feel-good nostalgia and more. However, as different as the tales are from one another, they are all stitched together with the common thread of wine!

Each story begins with a short introduction to some essential features of a specific wine grape varietal, which then segues cleverly into the story itself. A prime example of this literary tool is found in the story titled, “Merlot – The Mysterious Visitor.” Following a brief discussion of Merlot characteristics, Kristof writes, “Perhaps a common denominator shared by various Merlot wines is that they tend to be robust and smooth. Robust and smooth are two terms that aptly describe the unexpected visitor to the Miller’s home one late afternoon nearly five decades ago, when their children were still young.”

Some of the stories take place in beautifully landscaped vineyards with idyllic scenery that is described by Kristof so vividly it’s easy to immerse one’s self visually into the rich settings. Most of stories do not center around winemaking or winemakers, though many include crafty references to the wine varietal at the heart of the story’s name. All of the stories feature unique and memorable characters who Kristof somehow manages to develop quite fully, despite the page limitations of a short story. The same goes for the plots which unwind quickly, yet maintain enough depth and detail to engage the reader fully.

The variety of stories in this book are sure to spark different emotions. Some of them are purely “feel-good” tales, filled with hope, love and faith, while others will have you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next shoe to drop! A few of the stories are sure to ignite feelings of desire and passion, while others may leave a tear in your eye as you experience sweet reminiscence of one of life’s beautiful moments. Twists and turns will surprise you, and in some situations, justice will prevail, but not in an obvious way.

So, is this book merely an excuse to drink wine while reading, thus avoiding any guilt? Not at all! In fact, the wine is entirely optional, but many readers are sharing an interesting twist on the method. The idea is to read each story on a different day, enjoying that day’s story with the specific varietal referenced in the story’s title!

Short story anthologies have become increasingly popular due to the way they fit in with our hectic schedules. One need not commit a large chunk of time to a single novel-length story. Finishing a story without the lengthy commitment to a standard novel is a bonus…so is the wine if one chooses to indulge!

Cheers!