New ‘Novel Pairings’ event pairs wine with reading genres
Silent book club format brings readers together April 22
– Novel Pairings will host its first in-person event April 22 at Hope on Park in Paso Robles, introducing a format that pairs wine with the books guests are reading.
The event will take place as a silent book club, where participants bring their current books and receive a wine selected based on the genre of their reading material. The concept matches wine to books rather than food.
Novel Pairings, founded by Sonoma-based wine editor and educator Erin Kirschenmann, launched in May 2025 as a digital membership platform offering curated book and wine pairings, playlists, and community discussion. The platform has grown to 54 members across the country and expanded in March with the launch of a wine club.
“I’ve been pairing wine to whatever I’m reading for more than a decade and this habit eventually became the foundation of Novel Pairings,” said Kirschenmann. “Our members have been asking for in-person events almost since we launched, and April 22 is our first time doing so. I want people to walk in, pour a glass chosen for the book in their hand, and feel like someone thought about their experience before they arrived.”
At the event, guests will receive a wine pairing selected by Kirschenmann based on the genre they are reading. Organizers state that a thriller, historical work, or literary fiction selection may each correspond to a different wine choice.
Guests will bring their own books, sit in arranged spaces, and read quietly for a set period. The event will include a short optional group activity, followed by a book swap.
The evening will begin with mingling and wine, continue with a dedicated reading period, and conclude with the group activity and book exchange. Organizers state the event is open to both existing members and new participants, and does not require prior membership or preparation.
The silent book club format has grown in cities including San Francisco and London, reflecting increased interest in social gatherings centered on reading.
Tickets cost $25 for members of Novel Pairings and Hope Family Wines, and $30 for nonmembers. Admission includes one glass of wine, access to reading spaces, group activities, and the book swap.
Hope on Park is located at 1140 Park St. in Paso Robles. Tickets and additional information are available online.
Novel Pairings is a book and wine club founded in May 2025 by Kirschenmann. The platform combines book selections with wine pairings, playlists, and community discussions. In March, it added a wine club and will hold its first live event in April.
