Holiday gifts

People often ask me what wine to gift a wine lover. This year, I’d like to suggest something that lasts a little longer than a bottle: a book. Below are a few titles I read this year that make for excellent company with any glass of wine—County or otherwise.

CORK DORK — BIANCA BOSKER
This one sat on my shelf for years before I finally cracked it open, and I’m glad I did. Bosker knew nothing about wine when she decided to infiltrate New York City’s elite wine circles. She gave herself a year to study for the Court of Master Sommeliers’ introductory exam, and the book follows her progress with humour and honesty. If you enjoy her style, her follow-up about the art world, Get the Picture, is equally revealing—perhaps alarmingly so.

CELLAR RAT — HANNA SELINGER
This book digs into the darker corners of the restaurant world in a way I haven’t seen since Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. What makes Selinger’s account stand out—and sting—is that it’s told from the front-of-house perspective, not the kitchen. It’s an unvarnished look at the abuse she endured while working alongside some very high-profile New York chefs. You may even recognize a few names. It’s a tough read, but an important one.

SERVICE INCLUDED — PHOEBE DAMROSCH
Ever wondered what it’s like to open a three- Michelin-star restaurant? Damrosch was on the service team that launched Per Se, Thomas Keller’s celebrated New York outpost of his legendary Napa restaurant, The French Laundry. Her story follows her rise through fine dining and captures the chaos, discipline, and obsessive detail required to operate at that level. It’s as close as most of us will ever get to the inside of a Michelin kitchen—and thank goodness for that.

WINE WITCH ON FIRE —NATALIE MACLEAN
Natalie MacLean’s memoir is an unflinching look at a brutal year in her life. It begins with her divorce and quickly spirals into a storm of criticism from other wine writers—all of them men, many well known in Canadian wine circles. PEC readers will appreciate the strong local connection woven throughout. It’s raw, vulnerable, and hard to put down.

A FOOL AND FORTY ACRES — GEOFF HEINRICKS
For anyone curious about how the PEC wine industry began, this is essential reading. Heinricks tells the story of leaving Toronto for the County to plant grapes long before it was fashionable or profitable. The book blends his personal journey with a rich, deeply researched history of the area. I still recommend it to anyone passing through our wineries who wants to understand how this place became what it is.

Next week, I’ll continue the book talk with a few restaurant reads that shine a light on the often-overlooked ingredient in hospitality: good service.