First, my inexperience in wine culture precedes me. I’ve never been able to differentiate the merits of a 40-dollar bottle from the three-buck Chuck. Still, Michelle Wildgen’s Wine People drew me in with its promise of mouthwatering descriptions within a tale of women’s friendships. The novel’s characters work in the wine industry and know all the best combinations of food and wine, and they exude knowledge about varietals and pH levels. They are polished and cultured. They one-up each other with hidden gems and chic eateries in New York City and abroad. I drank it all in!

The story focuses on two women, Wren and Thessaly, embroiled in a competition for a top spot at their company when owner Lionel hints at retirement. Once the women figure out they are stronger together, they become seemingly unstoppable. But then, they have to pivot with that power to manage the wax and wane of the wine world and their own friendship.

Equal parts a globetrotting tour and a love story between girlfriends, the chapters alternate the voices of Wren and Thessaly, who are as distinctive as their backgrounds. My only critique is that being in the heads of these two women’s worries about each other, their colleagues, and their pasts slowed the novel’s pace for me. Still, Wildgen’s work illustrated an authentic portrayal of female camaraderie in a world where men dominate and welcomed me to the secret language of wine people.

Book to film? Absolute yes! Cinematic opportunities abound, from the cozy German tasting room to the most exceptional restaurants in New York City to the artistic California wine community. Also, I can absolutely see Ben Kingsley as the wine magnate that all the characters are racing to impress.

Thank you to Zibby Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wine People by Michelle Wildgen was an escape from reality. I was whisked away from my upstate New York home into European countries, California, New York City and even the Midwest to explore the art of wine-making. Wren and Thessaly are two women trying to make it in the wine industry, but couldn’t be any different. Wren hails from the Midwest of modest means with something to prove and Thessaly comes from a prestigious family in California full of inner doubt. Initially competitors, they join forces to gain status in the company and ultimately forge a friendship that changes their lives. I challenge readers to read this without feeling lit up from the inside about the characters’ passion for wine and sparking your own idea of what could be next for you, too.

This is like a nice glass of dry red that ends a little flat for me. I love books about the relationship between women and the importance of it. It was hard to embrace these women for the first half of the book but you do end up routing for them in their ups and downs of friendship, business and life. Thank you to NetGalley for a preview of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful food & wine descriptions! I felt this was a realistic and healthy portrayal of females friendships. It was also a story about women following their passions and advancing their careers that didn’t feel the need to fixate on their romantic endeavors, which I very much appreciated.

Let’s raise a glass to female friendships, armchair travel, and chasing your dreams. WINE PEOPLE is the story of two women from vastly different backgrounds working for a high-end wine importer in New York City. When the head honcho announces his upcoming departure after decades in the industry, it sends the company into a cutthroat tailspin as the employees vie for a position at the top.

I love the way the story whisked me away to quaint tasting rooms in the German countryside, the vineyards of Sonoma, and sweeping Italian villas. It was so easy to envision myself sipping a crisp Gewurztraminer or juicy Pinot Noir and Foodies will appreciate the decadent descriptions of extravagant meals. While I enjoyed the luxurious escape, the story is also full-bodied and robust in the way the best wines are.

Not a wine aficionado? Not a problem. Wine is a foundation for the story but the heart is truly how the women navigate forging their own path in a male-dominated industry. Many women will find the themes of being underestimated and building other women up when culture seeks to pit us against each other very relatable.

READ IF:
You enjoyed The Lager Queen of Minnesota
Prioritizing friendships resonates with you
Gallivanting through a European wine tour is on your bucket list

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: August 1, 2023

Many thanks to Zibby Books and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

France, Germany, Sonoma, Italy...and fantastic descriptions of food and wine? Plus, strong female characters? Welcome to Wine People. I loved this story of two very different women with their own goals learning to work together. A great story.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

This was a really great book! It dove into the complexities of female friendship and wine. I sometimes struggled with these characters being frustrating and having their flaws. But I was able to understand the need for those flaws in order to progress the story.

The cover! It grabbed my attention and I also dove in! What an interesting look at wine culture and the wine business. Most of all the book is about two women and their friendship as adults. Wildgen does an amazing job developing this relationship. The French scenery is set and the two main character's are waiting! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. A five star read!

This book did a VERY good job at portraying female friendships especially ones made in the post-university, real world of work and growing up. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Wren and Thessaly’s friendship develop and at different points in the novel I related to both of them.

They each had their own character development and flaws and struggled and I like where both of them ended up - it made sense to me! It was a really intriguing story and I loved how the world of wine and that culture almost felt like it’s own character in the story cause of how tightly it was intertwined into the narrative. I also think Michelle is a great writer and this story really held my attention.

Overall I’d recommend it to be read!! Especially if your looking for a book about female friendships cause that’s what really stood out to me.