BBR plans literary events

Fine wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd has announced a new line-up of literary events that will take place at its St James’s Street home.

The merchant will team up with a number of authors and historians for a mixture of lunchtime and evening discussions – with wine, each hosted by BBR’s Will Lyons.

The first event, a lunch on 14 September, will see Alexander McCall Smith discuss his latest wine-inspired and Montalcino-set work, ‘My Italian Bulldozer’, alongside an array from the merchant’s Italian portfolio chosen by Lyons.

Lyons commented: “It is an absolute privilege to welcome one of Scotland’s most celebrated writers to the cellars of Berry Bros. & Rudd. Wine and literature have flowed into each-others worlds for centuries and Sandy’s latest book is a vinous romp around Tuscany, I can’t wait to share his enthusiasm for the region, its wines, people and cuisine over a glass of Brunello di Montalcino or two.

“We hope this will be the first in a popular lunch time literature series bringing together some of the world’s greatest writers with the world’s greatest wines.”

Further planned events include an evening with political journalist Iain Martin who will talk about his book, ‘Crash Bang Wallop’ – a look at the financial revolution that shaped the modern City of London, while, in the New Year, the historian and author, Andrew Roberts will drop by to talk about his recently published biography of Napoleon Bonaparte and that French emperor’s love of wine.

BBR is not the first merchant to link wine and books of late. Corney & Barrow launched its ‘Book & Bottle’ club this June, while Borough Wines’ shop in Hastings sells both wine and books.

Tickets to the McCall Smith event cost £155 for more information about the events click here.