These 10 books will transport you to Italy
(Until you can get there in person)
I don’t know about you, but it is tough not being able to travel this year, especially to Italy—a country full of so much beauty, incredible wine and burrata…not to mention just about everything else the Italians put on a plate!
To help us feel like we’re there, I’ve put together a list of 10 books set in different parts of Italy. No matter where you dream of going—from the North to the South, from the islands and coasts to the mountains, from popular cities to the dusty country roads—La Dolce Vigna has got your Italian dreams covered!
And, as a special bonus, I’ve included Italian wine pairings for each book to convince a few more of your senses that you’re in Italy!
BUON VIAGGIO!
Leslie Rosa
Sommelier + Founder of La Dolce Vigna Wine + Culture Tour Co.
La Passione: How Italy Seduced the World
by Dianne Hales
This is an engaging exploration of Italian culture through the lens of one of its most famous attributes: passion. Hales covers everything from Ferrari and fashion to Puccini and parmesan. It is a fascinating read, full of wonderful anecdotes—both personal and historical.
Wine Pairing
Both for the complexity and passion of the stories captured in this book, I would pair La Passione with an Etna Rosso—an elegant and earthy red wine made from grapes at the foot of an active volcano on Sicily, Mt. Etna.
My Brilliant Friend
by Elena Ferrante
Already a hit HBO TV series (recommended!), My Brilliant Friend is the first of a four part coming-of-age series called the Neapolitan Novels. Set mostly in the poor periphery of Naples, the story focuses on two friends, Elena and Lila, as they maneuver becoming women in the 1950s.
Wine Pairing
Try sipping on a white wine native to the area around Naples: Falanghina. It’s just as vibrant as this friendship.
A Room With a View
by E. M. Forster
Written and set in the early 1900s, this love story of two British travelers takes place against the beautiful backdrop of Florence and Rome. It also became an acclaimed film in 1985, starring Helena Bonham Carter and Judi Dench.
Wine Pairing
Pour yourself a glass of young Chianti Classico while submersing yourself in Tuscan landscapes.
The Land Where Lemons Grow
by Helena Attlee
In this blend of travel writing, cultural history and horticulture, Attlee delves into the curious case of citrus in Italy, managing to bottle the essence of the country while doing so.
Wine Pairing
Greco di Tufo! This zesty white wine is from Campania, one of Italy’s prime growing regions for lemons, and characteristically offers lemon-led flavors.
Inspector Brunetti Series
by Donna Leon
Leon has already penned twenty-nine novels featuring Guido Brunetti, a Venetian Inspector. She is a master at both mystery writing and capturing Venetian life. Death at La Fenice and Acqua Alta are my favorites so far.
Wine Pairing
Though technically a cocktail, I would pair this series with a Venetian staple: the spritz—a Campari spritz to be exact, which is more serious than the light-hearted Aperol spritz. It’s the perfect thing to sip on while pondering who the culprit is with Inspector Brunetti.
BOOK CLUBS!
Interested in traveling to Italy together for a wine, food and literature-infused trip in 2022 and beyond?
In addition to our intimate Wine + Culture Tours to Italy, La Dolce Vigna offers private tours and bespoke trips for small groups. We would be happy to plan a lovely week for you and your book club!
Click on one of the links below to get started!
Call Me By Your Name
by André Aciman
Now a critically acclaimed film, Call Me By Your Name is a love story between an American teenager vacationing with his parents in Italy in the 1980s and a visiting doctoral student. Set on the Ligurian coast, you can feel the sun and sea spray, and smell the Mediterranean pine as you turn the pages.
Wine Pairing
A tingly and fresh Vermentino from Liguria will complete your transportation to this beautiful stretch of Italian coastline!
The Italians
by Luigi Barzini
I always recommend this book to clients of my Wine + Culture Tours as Barzini is a genius at pinpointing what makes Italians tick, for better or for worse. It was published in 1964, but so much of it is still relevant today.
Wine Pairing
For this one, I’m selecting a sparkling wine made just outside of Barzini’s hometown of Milan: Franciacorta. Made in the traditional (Champagne) method, Franciacorta is both lively and complex, just like Barzini’s commentary on his fellow Italians.
See you in the Piazza
by Frances Mayes
Released in 2019, this is the latest book by the same author of Under the Tuscan Sun. In it, Mayes describes her travels throughout Italy, highlighting lesser known cities and towns. Beautiful musings on unsung gems.
Wine Pairing
Try a wine from an Italian wine region you have never heard of before! That is the spirit behind this book—to get to know parts of Italy that are off the beaten track. Need help? Check out this article on which Italian wines to try based on more common wines you probably already drink and love. Or join La Dolce Vigna’s Quarterly Italian Wine + Culture Club.
The Leopard
by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
If you really like dense and historic literature, try The Leopard. This epic novel chronicles the socio-political climate in Sicily during the time of Italy’s Unification in 1861, focusing on one noble family in particular. Check out the 1963 film too, starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale.
Wine Pairing
Lampedusa’s detailed prose pairs perfectly with Nero d’Avola, a dark and rich wine made from the eponymous grape native to Sicily. You can also try the island’s only DOCG wine: a Cerasuolo di Vittoria (made from Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes).
A Farewell to Arms
by Ernest Hemingway
Published in 1929 and set in Northern Italy during World War I, A Farewell to Arms is a first-person account of an American working in the Italian Army who falls in love with a British nurse. Perhaps not a beach book, but painfully moving.
Wine Pairing
Heavy drinking is a common theme in most Hemingway novels. This one is no different: Beer, cognac, vermouth, champagne, grappa and wine of varying sorts are all mentioned. But, I’m choosing a Barbera d’Asti from Piedmont based on one of the rather simpatico comments a character makes: ‘I like a retreat better than an advance,’ Bonello said. ‘On a retreat we drink barbera.’
There you have it. I hope these books—and wine pairings—will help bring Italy to you until you can go there in person!
About Leslie Rosa
Sommelier + Founder of La Dolce Vigna Wine + Culture Tour Co.
As an art-curator-turned-sommelier, my passion is to create immersive experiences and curated itineraries in which each day tells a story and offers an in-depth look at the history and culture of a particular region. Each of my Wine + Culture Tours includes wine tastings at top wineries, a cooking class, a visit to artisanal food producer, guided town walks, and meals of a lifetime! Private tours can be tailored even more to your interests.
What Clients are saying
“La Dolce Vigna’s trips are beyond any expectation you will ever have; the curated experiences, the places to stay, the food and wine — every detail was perfection.”
“The trip I did with Leslie really enriched my life and the way I feel about life. Starting to think about a next trip!”
“As an experienced traveler, I just returned from a trip to Italy with La Dolce Vigna that was without a doubt one of the most well-run, informative, and enjoyable trips of a lifetime.”
Looking for other ways to bring Italy to you?
La Dolce Vigna’s Wine + Culture Club may just be the thing!
Not only do you get top Italian wines each quarter, but a box full of cultural swag from Italy: books, crafts, gourmet foodstuffs, maps, heirloom seeds, and more.