b-sides: liner notes
If you follow me or @noblegrapenc on Instagram, you may have seen that my entry to the Jancis Robinson 2024 Wine Writing Contest was recently published on jancisrobinson.com. Mine is one of a few dozen essays that comprise the long list of stories that the fine folks at JR will cull down into a short list before choosing a winner.
Here’s a link to read the essay: B-sides and unforgettable evenings
I haven’t won yet, and, frankly, I don’t expect to. The essays published so far range from deeply moving to laugh-out-loud funny to serious and important. My fellow longlisters hail from all over the world, and many are significantly more accomplished and proficient than I—in terms of both wine and writing. But even if my little Southern vignette about drinking wine in the woods doesn’t make it past the quarter final, it’s still one of my proudest personal and professional accomplishments to date.
My essay embraces the metaphor of b-sides, and I hope you’ll indulge me for a little behind-the-music.
I had two goals with this essay:
Put North Carolina wine and hybrid grapes on an international stage. I am really happy with how both the wine and the story scream (holler, even) Western North Carolina. I aimed to unapologetically paint that picture, and I think I did alright.
Push myself toward a more earnest and emotional writing style, like some of my favorite wine and food storytellers. There were moments throughout writing and editing this piece that made me feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. I tried my best to embrace those feelings, and the result is honest and joyful.
If you want to know more about the emerging NC wine scene—from the mountains of Western North Carolina to the Outer Banks—don’t miss Wine Enthusiast's A Guide to North Carolina’s Under-the-Radar Wine Scene by none other than friend of the Sub, Kara Daly of Wine is Confusing.
If you like the writing and want to explore the storytelling that inspired it, here are just a few favorites:
Essays
The Seven Essential Southern Dishes by Sheri Castle
My Old Friend Natty Light by Mickie Meinhardt
Books of essays
Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl
Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch
Godforsaken Grapes by Jason Wilson
To Fall in Love, Drink This by Alice Feiring
Cookbooks that are worth reading for the essays as much as the recipes
The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis
Deep Run Roots by Vivian Howard