Courtesy of: NapaFilms.net
We had a great time reading Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker. In addition to taking the time to answer some questions below and interacting with us on social media, Bianca was kind enough to work with us on custom book plates, available only at Books & Books at The Studios. You can still get one when you buy Cork Dork from us, online or in-store, while supplies last.
Did you always know you were going to write a book about your quest to pass the sommeliers’ test?
I have the disease that afflicts a lot of journalists, which is that I’m virtually incapable of doing anything without thinking that it could become a story. Vacation in a new place? Story. Dinner out? Story. And so when I first got fixated by the world of cork dorks, I thought there could maybe be a story there–but I had no inkling of all the places that journey would eventually take me.
What do you feel is the key thing you took away from your year-long journey of learning about wine tasting and the world of sommeliers?
Most of us pretty much ignore two of the five senses—taste and smell—that we’ve been given to take in the world. Sommeliers live for them. Through these somms, I’ve learned to embrace a new mindset: what I call “sensefulness,” the idea that it is by tuning into our senses that we can better make sense of the world. Even beyond the table, sharpening my senses means I can pick up on information and nuance that I never knew existed. Tuning in to them bestows us with new intelligence with which to make sense of our lives. While those revelations can begin with a glass of wine, they certainly don’t end there.
Which part of the research did you enjoy the most?
How could I possibly choose between dissecting cadaver brains with sensory scientists, guzzling Burgundy at the world’s most extravagant wine orgy, and getting hazed by aspiring Master Sommeliers? I had the time of my life, even if I was hungover for lots of it.
What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a radical life change of the kind that this book chronicles?
Knowing very little can actually be an asset, as long as you’re open, curious, and fearless about asking questions. I found that coming into the world of wine without any preconceptions made me open to all kinds of information, even from unorthodox sources, that helped me progress faster than I otherwise might have.
Are you working on a new writing project? What’s next for you?
I am! I am just starting work on a new non-fiction book, while also contributing stories about wine and culture to outlets such as The Atlantic. I have a story on mass extinction coming out soon…
What’s on your nightstand? What are you reading and recommending currently?
Next to my nightstand is a tower of books as tall as my nightstand. I recently devoured Lauren Hilgers’ fabulous book Patriot Number One — a riveting and revealing story that doubles as one of the most fascinating portraits of New York City.
What are your favorite wine recommendations these days?
I’ve been going wild for the white wines of Sicily and Slovenia. They’re interesting, odd, soulful, and a bargain, and I just cant get enough of them.
~ Robin Wood, Associate Manager