Events for people who love
books, wine and friends
In-person gatherings, virtual tastings, and wine workshops, open to everyone. No membership required. Just show up.
FEATURED EVENT
Pages & Pours
Calistoga
Beat the summer heat in the coolest room in Calistoga—literally.
The wine cave at Joseph Cellars is the perfect escape for an afternoon spent with a book in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Bring whatever you're currently reading, taste through a flight of Joseph Cellars' wines to find your pairing, then settle into the cave for a stretch of uninterrupted reading time. No assigned book, no discussion required.
Sunday, August 23 · 1pm–3:30pm
Joseph Cellars, Calistoga, CA
Capped at 25 guests and our last two events sold out
Most people come solo—the format handles the rest.
Tickets $20 for Novel Pairings and Joseph Cellars members; $30 General Admission.
WHAT TO EXPECT
You'll start with a short tasting to find the glass that fits your book and your mood—maybe something bold if you're deep in a thriller, or perhaps something brighter if it's a beach read. From there, we move into the cave itself, all stone walls, soft light, and quiet, for a dedicated stretch of reading time: no small talk, no phones, just you, your book, and the atmosphere.
It's the kind of afternoon that's hard to carve out on your own, so we're doing it for you.
When the reading winds down, there's space to mingle, swap a book you're ready to part with for something new-to-you, and if you're up for it, read aloud the line that stopped you in your tracks.
Everything after the tasting is entirely optional. You can spend the whole afternoon reading, chatting, or a little of both.
Upcoming Events
We host a variety of events online and in-person that are open to members and non-members alike.
VIRTUAL
September 27
Monthly Book Club
Zoom - Members Only
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. PT
The live discussion that makes the whole monthly ritual click into place. Pour the paired wine, show up in whatever you're wearing, and talk about the book with a group of people who actually finished it.
Free for Members
VIRTUAL
ONLINE WORKSHOP
October 14
Spooky Good Grocery Wines
Zoom
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Who says great wine has to be expensive or hard to find? In this totally judgment-free, wildly fun class, we’ll taste through a lineup of delicious, budget-friendly bottles you can grab on your next grocery run.
Members Join Free - General Admission $10
VIRTUAL
JULY 26
Monthly Book Club
Zoom - Members Only
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. PT
The live discussion that makes the whole monthly ritual click into place. Pour the paired wine, show up in whatever you're wearing, and talk about the book with a group of people who actually finished it.
Free for Members
ONLINE WORKSHOP
AUGUST 12
Taste Like a Pro!
Zoom
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Ever wonder how wine pros seem to pluck flavors out of thin air? This interactive online course breaks down exactly how to taste wine like an expert and talk about what's in your glass with actual confidence. Step-by-step, approachable, and a lot more fun than it sounds.
Members Join Free - General Admission $10
IN PERSON
AUGUST 23
Pages & Pours
Joseph Cellars
Calistoga, CA · 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Bring whatever you're currently reading, pour a glass, and settle in. It's a silent reading session at a beautiful Napa Valley wine cave, with plenty of time to talk about what everyone's been reading before you leave. Solo attendance is the norm here.
Members from $20 - General Admission from $30
VIRTUAL
AUGUST 28
Monthly Book Club
Zoom - Members Only
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. PT
The live discussion that makes the whole monthly ritual click into place. Pour the paired wine, show up in whatever you're wearing, and talk about the book with a group of people who actually finished it.
Free for Members
VIRTUAL
Types of Events
🍷
Plot Twists & Pinot
Our flagship seasonal event. Books, wine, games, a book swap, and a crowd of people who get it, all at a beautiful vineyard.
📖
Pages & Pours
Silent reading at local vineyards. Bring what you're reading. Stay as long as you like. Leave with a recommendation.
🎓
Wine Workshops
Approachable wine education, like Rosé 101, Wines of the World, Taste Like a Pro. Fun, never intimidating.
🌿
Winery Gatherings
Curated community outings at wineries across California. For the people who want the experience without the planning.
💻
Virtual Book Clubs & Tastings
Monthly live discussions and virtual tasting sessions are accessible from anywhere, no travel required.
BETWEEN EVENTS
Events are better
with a membership
Events are open to everyone, but members get in first and pay less. Between events, you get one book, one wine, and one playlist matched together every month, plus a live book club and a private community where the conversations continue. Drop into what interests you! There's no pressure to attend everything, and no homework if you miss a month.
✔ Monthly book + mood-matched wine pairing
✔ Custom playlist to go with each book
✔ Live monthly book club (Zoom)
✔ Private member community + book swap (friendly, active, easy to use)
✔ Early access + member pricing on all events
✔ Optional: quarterly wine club (3 bottles shipped)
Ways to join
Monthly membership $10.99 / mo
Annual membership $114 / year
Quarterly wine club add-on ~$120 / quarter
Attend an event (no membership) $25–$45
"Novel Pairings started because I love pairing what I'm reading to the perfect glass of wine and I wanted to share that feeling with others."
Erin Kirschenmann, Founder
Every event is structured so you don't have to do any social heavy lifting to have a good time. The trope seating, the games, the book swap…none of that is accidental. It's all there so you walk in solo and immediately have something to do, someone to talk to, and a reason to come back.
Members come from across the country. Most of our in-person attendees find out about us through a friend who went to a previous event and came home recommending it.
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