What pairs perfectly with wine, regardless of what’s in your glass? A great book.
I’ve been combining these two pleasures for most of my adult life, and the connection between them feels almost effortless. Both invite you to slow down, settle in, and escape for a while.
There’s a comforting ritual to each. You pull on something cozy, choose a mood, whether it’s a genre or a varietal, and sink into your favorite chair. A novel can transport you to another world just as easily as a glass of wine can.
But books and wine aren’t always solitary pursuits. They are meant to be shared.
My book club, Reading Between the Wines, embraces both. Every meeting starts with a toast to our members. Just as I’m eager to discuss a novel I’ve loved, I also enjoy swapping wine recommendations with my Wine Gals group. Both gatherings revolve around conversation, discovery, and a shared appreciation for something we enjoy.
And both books and wine can be delightfully uncomplicated or wonderfully complex. Sometimes, all you need is a beach read paired with a crisp pinot grigio. Other times, a thought-provoking novel practically demands a layered cabernet and a long discussion.
Even the way we discover new favorites is remarkably similar. A friend sends a text recommending a must-read. A colleague mentions a fantastic bottle over lunch. Recommendations have a way of creating communities.
Independent businesses across North Carolina have embraced this natural pairing, and bookstores serving wine are becoming destinations in their own right.
In Asheville, I’ve long wanted to visit the Battery Park Book Exchange. When I finally made it there, I immediately understood the appeal. Bookshelves surrounded comfortable seating, and groups of friends, couples, and solo readers lingered over books and wine cocktails. I happily joined them.
In downtown Fayetteville, Bound & Vine offers another irresistible combination. Owner Kellie Artis has created an elegant, welcoming space centered around books, community, and thoughtfully selected wines. Between the curated collection, book clubs, and literary events, it’s the kind of place where I could lose track of time entirely.
Raleigh readers can visit Bright Side Books & Wine Bar, a bookstore devoted to romance in all its forms, from fantasy and contemporary fiction to LGBTQ+ titles and beyond. Cozy couches, outdoor seating, wine by the glass, and plenty of conversation make it an ideal spot to spend an afternoon.
Two more North Carolina destinations remain on my list: Trilogy Books Wine & Tea and Quarter Moon Books. I haven’t made it to either one yet, but I’m certain I’ll stop in when my travels take me that way.
My fellow reader and wine enthusiast Emily Naughton summed it up perfectly: “Wine and books are both relaxing. People read books to escape the stresses of everyday life, and people often use wine the same way. It’s like a date night with yourself and your brain.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Which leaves us to, what are you reading and what’s in your glass tonight?