The Book
Dreamers and Schemers chronicles how Los Angeles’s pursuit and staging of the 1932 Olympic Games during the depths of the Great Depression helped fuel the city’s transformation from a seedy frontier village to a world-famous metropolis. Leading that pursuit was the “Prince of Realtors,” William May (Billy) Garland, a prominent figure in early Los Angeles.
In important respects, the story of Billy Garland is the story of Los Angeles. After arriving in Southern California in 1890, he and his allies drove much of the city’s historic expansion in the first two decades of the twentieth century. Then, from 1920 to 1932, he directed the city’s bid for the 1932 Olympic Games. Garland’s quest to host the Olympics provides an unusually revealing window onto a particular time, place, and way of life. Reconstructing the narrative from Garland’s visionary notion to its consequential aftermath, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Barry Siegel, shows how one man’s grit and imagination made California history.
The Wine
This month we embrace the Olympic spirit with a reconstructive nonfiction narrative about the 1932 Olympic bid to host the games in Los Angeles. I felt it high time to finally shine a light on LA’s own growing wine scene and this month’s wine picks put LA’s best wine foot forward.
First up, we have Angeleno Wine Co.’s scrumptious Superbloom White that emulates LA’s wildflower explosion after we get any rain. It’s no surprise that Spanish varietals thrive in the LA climate and this Verdejo is no exception. Give this charming wine a nice chill before your next Spanish-themed summer picnic and get ready to enjoy.
Next, we have a rosé blend from Cavaletti Vineyards that also celebrates two major Spanish varietals. This Tempranillo and Garnacha blend (with just a hint of Pinot Noir) tastes of LA’s finest farmers’ market offerings: ripe red berries and roses. Grab a bottle and drink before 2023…I’m sure that won’t be hard.
Our last offering is a bold Zinfandel from Acri Wine Co. This Zin hails from the Smith Valley Vineyard in the high desert, which means the vineyard endured hot days and cool nights. Such a climate combination makes for an intensified complexity with notes of red licorice, pepper, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco. You can store this bottle in a cool place to save for later or enjoy it now. Either way, you’ll wan
t to pair this bottle with a decadent dinner for two.
Free to join and open to all!
About Reading Cru
What do we read?
Our club curator selects a range of literature, both fiction and nonfiction
What do we drink?
Three suggested wines that pair with the book based on themes and flavors.
What & where do we meet?
Join us virtually the last Sunday of each month at 5pm via Zoom or Google Meet.
