Bookworm, Issue 15
The Book: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Lazy, summer days call for undemanding “beach reads,” and One Italian Summer fulfills that craving. It’s not hard to imagine what might unfold in this novel set on the Amalfi Coast. As expected, there’s a sojourn to southern Italy that involves romance, but there’s also hardship as the protagonist Katy Silver grapples with her mother’s recent death and self doubt about her life’s trajectory.
Last summer I had the good fortune to spend six nights on the Amalfi Coast, staying in Positano at the Hotel Poseidon, where the book’s narrator Katy stays. Poolside one afternoon, in conversation with another American, I learned that she was there specifically because she read and loved this story. Naturally, I was curious about the book, and when I noticed a worn copy on one of the hotel’s free bookshelves, I grabbed it for myself. My book is missing the dust jacket, and it’s water damaged – so I like to imagine it has an interesting travel story of its own.
If you’re in a carefree, vacation mindset, One Italian Summer delivers an easy-reading, afternoon escape. The story pairs perfectly with fresh and juicy rosé – the essence of summer sipping. Together, it’s possible to imagine yourself seaside in picturesque Positano.
Katy is a 30-year-old copywriter who lives in Los Angeles. Her closest friend and confidant is her mother Carol, whose recent death leaves Katy reeling. She’s questioning everything about her life, including her marriage, when she embarks on a solo vacation to Positano, originally intended to be a trip with her mother.
In Positano she befriends a young woman named Carol, who looks and acts exactly like her mother would have 30 years ago. The author doesn’t fully explain this unlikely coincidence, but play along. Suspend your disbelief and continue reading because as Katy and youthful Carol’s relationship develops, an unexpected twist is revealed.
While Katy’s character isn’t deeply developed – you learn more about her clothing and food preferences than you do about her inner landscape – she does make some astute observations in regard to her own life. A reoccurring theme is the importance of occasional discomfort, openness to change and personal evolution. Katy’s mother tells her “There is more to life than just continuing to do what we know,” and youthful Carol reiterates this advice when she says, “What got you here won’t get you there.”
If you’ve been to Positano, or dream about going, author Rebecca Serle’s descriptions of the colorful, cliffside village with its steep stairs, throngs of tourists, and salty sea breezes transport you there. Small details, like the mention of handmade ceramics and sandals and lemon-printed fabrics, add to the novel’s charm and believability. The narrative captures the ebb and flow of unscheduled time on vacation and the enjoyment of simple pleasures and meeting new people. Positano is a special place, and Serle’s writing reveals that she senses it, too.
While I could argue that the book is predictable and frivolous, the story did pull at my heartstrings, and so I consider it a success. It’s not for everyone, but it’s not without merit. The grieving process is simplified, but Katy finds strength to heal. And, importantly, she discovers the value of self-acceptance, acknowledging that each step forward is enough.
The Wine: Tenuta San Francesco, Rosato ‘ED,’ Costa d’Amalfi, Italy, 2022
This wine is pale salmon. It has medium intensity on the nose with youthful aromas of pink grapefruit, tangerine, lemongrass, sea spray, fresh red cherry, strawberry, red currant, cucumber, rose petal and honeysuckle.
Flavors most noticeable on the palate include red fruits like cherry, strawberry and pomegranate, as well as citrus fruits like pink grapefruit, tangerine and lemon. It has medium (+) flavor intensity and a long finish that’s pleasantly spicy (pink peppercorn) and saline. The wine is dry with medium (+) acid, medium (-) body and medium alcohol at 13% ABV.
This Rosato is a blend of two indigenous Italian black grapes, Tintore di Tramonti and Piedirosso. It is fermented and aged 6-8 months in stainless steel and spends 1-2 months in the bottle prior to release.
Why the pairing works:
Author Rebecca Serle beautifully captures the spirit of Positano in One Italian Summer, and so this wine pairing is intended to evoke that atmosphere of contentment. Wine is a reflection of its place – its climate, topography and soil – its “terroir.” And this refreshing rosé smells and tastes of citrus, flowers and the sea – things you will see around every turn if you travel the Amalfi Coast.
Tenuta San Francesco is located about one hour from Positano, in the Lattari Mountains above the Amalfi Coast. It’s a small estate operated by four friends and their families who want to keep the area’s viticultural traditions alive. Their vineyards are home to indigenous Italian grape varieties, and some, like Tintore di Tramonti, are rarely found outside of this small growing region. The resulting wines are truly expressive of this specific place.
While the estate produces a variety of red and white wines, this pairing works best with easy-drinking rosé. It’s bright, fresh, and fruity character compliments sunny, summer days and lighthearted, approachable novels.
At Tenuta San Francesco rare, old vines (possibly 300 years old!) grow on steep, terraced slopes and are trained high onto pergolas allowing the fruit to hang below. This less-commonly used training system stabilizes the vines and protects them from the wind. (Historically, farmers would then grow vegetables or graze livestock underneath the canopy.)
These old vines pre-date the spread of phylloxera across Europe in the mid- to late-1800s. The pest, an aphid from America, nearly destroyed the continent’s vineyards; but in some soils, where there’s sand or volcanic ash, phylloxera cannot thrive. Phylloxera feeds on the vine’s roots allowing disease to enter and kill the plant. Scientists eventually learned to graft European varieties onto American rootstock, which is generally more resistant to phylloxera.
Many experts believe that grafting does not affect the taste of the wine, but some claim it affects the texture. While I don’t have the experience to know, I can say that tasting wine from own-rooted vines always feels special.
(Regular readers have heard me talk about phylloxera before because its effect on grape growing and winemaking cannot be understated. This fascinating article by Kelli White is a worthwhile read if the topic interests you.)
Tenuta San Francesco’s Rosato is unlikely to be available to you, unless you travel to the Amalfi Coast. In its place, seek out another rosé from southern Italy, or try one of the fabulous summer sipping recommendations I’ve listed below. There’s a rosé, a sparkling rosé, a white and a chillable red – something for everyone!
G.D. Vajra, ‘Rosa Bella’ Rosato, Piemonte, Italy, 2023 $19.99
Domaine Lelièvre, Méthode Traditionnelle Leucquois Brut, Côtes de Toul, France, NV $21.99
Vigneti del Vulture, “Pipoli’ Greco/Fiano, Basilicata, Italy, 2020 $23.99
Angelo Negro, Unfiltered Vino Rosso, Piemonte, Italy, 2022 $21.99