Corked: A Memoir

“Take the wine odyssey narrative and occasional psychotic frustration of Alexander Payne's Oscar-winning film “Sideways”, combine it with the elements of self-discovery and cultural adaptation found in Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence, rewrite both with the humourous insight of David Sedaris's Me Talk Pretty One Day and express the whole lot in the irreverent tone of Chuck Klosterman's Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story, and you have Corked.”

Meet Kathryn Borel, absurd bon vivant and daughter of duty. Now meet her father, Philippe, former chef, eccentric genius, and wine aficionado extraordinaire. Kathryn is like her father in every way but one: she doesn’t get it when it comes to wine. And although Philippe has devoted untold parenting hours to delivering impassioned, oenological orations, she has managed to remain unenlightened. But after an accident and a death, Kathryn realizes that by shutting herself off to her father's greatest passion, she will never really know him. So, she proposes a drunken father-daughter road trip. As they drive through the country, meeting with vintners, touring vineyards, laughing, screaming, panicking and fighting, they watch the birth, development and maturation of a very special part of their relationship: the ability to connect over wine. 

This is the uncensored account of their tour through the great wine regions of France. Kathryn's tale is uniquely told in her fervent and personal voice, and her stories are passionate and unpredictable, shocking and very funny. By turns uproarious, poignant, and filled with cunning little details about wine, CORKED is a book for any reader who has sought a connection with a complex family member or wanted to overcome the paralyzing terror of being faced with a restaurant wine list.