Screenless Nights, Yeastless Bread and Aussie Wine.
Plus two ridiculous fireplaces I can't stop thinking about.
Hello, it’s great to
see you again!
Editor – Phoebe Tully
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Last week I went to a tasting as part of the launch of a book on Australian wines.
“How to Drink Australian” is a mammoth tome that I genuinely think will serve as a key education tool for the wine industry for years to come – but is absolutely approachable enough for the everyday consumer too.
Written by Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross, both Master Sommeliers and importers of Australian wine into the US, it was a delight to chat to them both about a country they clearly knew more about that I did. I also ran into the guys behind La Petit Mort, the Granite Belt winery punching well above their weight. Don’t dismiss Queensland wine until you try it! They’re Gentil is one of my favourite orange wines, and is almost always sold out. I’d met them a couple of times before, and it was exciting to hear them talk about some of their plans in the pipeline. One to watch.
If you love your wine, or know someone who does, this book is a stunning gift. I’ve linked it below in this week’s curriculum.
Also, admin: this week, I thought I’d trial putting in actual prices for the items I link, instead of ranges. It might make things longer though – what do you think? Is it easier for you?
Let’s play a game.
I was reminded recently of Architectural Digest’s tour of Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul’s home in Idaho. Apart from the stone fireplace that is somehow significantly grander than the Yellowstone fireplace, what I remember was the backgammon board. Not only was it exquisitely detailed, it appeared to just be set up, ready for a game over coffee each morning (I realise these things are staged; let me dream).
I’ve previously extolled the virtue of the card game, and this is simply a continuation of the same idea: a little less time with the screens and a little more time with each other. Grab a French press full of coffee, a crystal decanter full of whiskey, or a teapot full of French Earl Grey, and dazzle your companion with your knowledge (which you YouTubed early that day).
Chess scenes abound in cinematic history and I suspect after The Queen’s Gambit, many people have already gone out and bought themselves a board. If not, here are some chess and backgammon boards that I would happily leave out next to the fireplace in my home (which I don’t have):
A marble chess set ($170) would be stunning and age so beautifully.
Checkers feels like a bit of a cop-out compared to chess, but I know for certain that most nights it’s all my brain would be up to. So this marble checkers board ($189) would actually probably get more use.
This timber chess set ($198) is a reproduction of the board she uses in The Queen’s Gambit. I love the contrasting tones.
This rustic-style olive wood chess set ($145) is marketed for kids because it’s small, but that stunning natural wood grain pattern…
This handcrafted Armenian backgammon board ($178) looks very similar to the one in Aaron Paul’s house.
For those who love colour, MoMA’s backgammon board ($240) would be a fun feature on your coffee table.
I like my chess pieces to look like the traditional ones because I get confused when they don’t, which is only one of the reasons this $7,500 chess board is impractical.
DO | go through your DIY board on Pinterest and select a project for the weekend.
MAKE | Irish soda bread – as the weather heats up, I want to spend more time outside and less time fussing over a sourdough starter. This no-yeast bread is ideal for whipping up for an afternoon picnic or cheeseboard.
READ | How to Drink Australian – Jane Lopes & Johnathon Ross
WATCH | What a Way to Go (1964)
LISTEN | Spotify’s Sweet Jazz playlist