Bookworm, Issue 7
The Book: Circe by Madeline Miller
In the novel Circe, author Madeleine Miller disavows the Greek nymph’s superficial, villainous reputation and replaces it with a heroine of exceptional depth and wisdom. Circe is a familiar mythological character from whom we might expect less, yet Miller gives us more, and it’s a pleasure to read. Here, the powerful witch-goddess is brimming with complex “humanness.” The result is not only an adventure-filled epic, but also a rich and rewarding interior journey as Circe discovers whom she is meant to be.
Our wine pairing comes from a rare, indigenous Greek grape variety that is wonderfully aromatic and shines on it’s own, with only minimal and careful intervention from the winemaker. As we follow Circe’s story, we’ll see her flourish, too, away from the influences of the other gods. She learns to trust her intuition and finds strength and beauty in the act of being true to herself.
With her voice “as screechy as an owl,” her inclination toward trust and kindness and her curiosity about the mortal world, Circe does not fit in with the other gods. They are cruel, lazy, egotistical and hedonistic. She watches them take pleasure in others’ suffering and sees firsthand that “the grudges of the gods are as deathless as their flesh.” Circe is mostly ignored and occasionally mocked, but she still longs for acceptance and love.
After a thousand years with her family, believing she is “nothing, a stone. One more nymph child among the thousand thousands,” Circe discovers her affinity for “Pharmakeia,” witchcraft, and gets a glimpse of whom she might become. She is promptly exiled to a deserted island as punishment for using the power of plants to transform the world around her. She discovers that the gods do indeed fear one thing, “a power greater than their own.”
Once alone on the island of Aiaia, the trajectory of her life changes. “I will not be like a bird bred in a cage,” she thinks, “too dull to fly even when the door stands open.” In her solitude, she blossoms as the only voice to guide her is her own. It is impossible not to admire her persistent spirit as she fails, yet tries again and again, to cast spells, building upon each small success.
While she remains physically bound to the island, occasionally outsiders – other gods, sailors lost at sea – find their way to her. Circe, with her newfound self-worth, has less fear and more confidence to speak her mind and please herself, not others. As readers, we delight in her independence – and power. She is strong-willed, and her successes are not accidental. But she is still vulnerable and feels the sting of her niece Medea’s words when, during an argument, she calls Circe “a pathetic exile, who stinks of her loneliness.”
Like the best epic tales, Miller writes a captivating page-turner that asks readers to contemplate bigger questions about how to live meaningfully. When Circe crosses paths with mortals, she notices their calloused hands, jagged scars and strands of silver hair. She recognizes, “Everything (is) united by the steady rise and fall of nature’s breath. Everything except me.” The people she loves are only a “blink” in her eternal existence. Unlike other gods, Circe feels regret for the human deaths her actions have caused. During an encounter with the immortal stingray Trygon, she thinks, “I cannot bear the world a moment longer.” And he wisely replies, “Then, child, make another.”
While stories about the feats and craftiness of the ancient gods and goddesses of myth are entertaining, they also invite us to reflect upon our own lives and our place in the world. Ultimately, Circe must decide what “another” life might look like to her. And, as I read this novel, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps the answer lies in listening. When we quiet all other voices but our own, what do we hear?
The Wine: Seméli Moschofilero, Mantinía, Greece 2021, $20
The wine is pale lemon-green with medium intensity on the nose and a wide array of aromas including rose, honeysuckle, ripe white peach and nectarine, green apple, grapefruit, lemongrass, lemon curd, melon, under-ripe pineapple and wet stones.
On the palate, it’s dry with medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium alcohol at 12.5% ABV. It has medium (+) flavor intensity that mirrors the nose, but is more fruit-driven. Flavors of peach, nectarine, grapefruit, lemon, green apple and pineapple prevail while hints of rose, lemongrass and citrus pith linger.
The wine has a medium (+) finish of complex flavors and refreshing acidity. It’s 100% Moschofilero, and it’s delicious. To smell the variety of interesting aromas, my suggestion is to allow the wine to warm up slightly after removing it from the refrigerator.
This wine is another excellent bottle that I purchased from my friend Horacio @sommnow. He curates specialty wines from small and interesting producers all around the world and arranges for them to be delivered right to your front door. Check him out on Instagram!
Why the pairing works:
Geography drives this pairing, and it gives us an opportunity to explore an unusual Greek grape variety, Moschofilero. It’s one of more than 200 grapes indigenous to Greece, and most grow nowhere else in the world. While there’s comfort in a glass of familiar Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s exciting to experience new aroma and flavor combinations.
When 82% of America’s wine production comes from just 10 big corporations, it’s important to seek out grape growers and winemakers who support biodiversity. As a witch-goddess who sources her power from plants, preserving and valuing nature’s diversity seems like an idea that Circe would endorse.
While sipping this wine, imagine Circe carefully harvesting plants around Aiaia and working on her spells in her kitchen – searching for that tenuous balance between intuition and intention. “Each spell was a mountain to be climbed anew. All I could carry with me was the knowledge that it could be done,” she says.
In the novel, Circe finds her voice and her power while she is in exile – alone. And so, it is important for this pairing that the wine is made from a grape variety that can stand alone, as well. Moschofilero is a floral-scented grape that is best appreciated as a varietal wine, which means no other grape varieties are part of the blend. It’s delicate but aromatic, so the winemaker treats the grapes with great care and does little to alter the flavor profile. For example, these grapes were hand-harvested, very gently pressed and fermented at cool temperatures to preserve their flavors and freshness.
For me, drinking this wine helps me appreciate nature’s diversity and shows me, as does Circe’s story, that there’s great beauty and value in what each plant or person brings to the table.