Publishers Weekly
08/23/2021
In this breezy if flawed debut, Singer, founder of the natural wine magazine Pipette, mixes food journalism and personal memoir to chronicle her path to finding love and a career in natural winemaking. While waiting tables in her late 20s at an upscale restaurant in Brooklyn to supplement her food writing, the author was introduced to a “particular rosé pét-nat,” that, she recalls, “set off a wild woman inside of me.” Eager to know more about the natural variety and its “carbonated punchiness,” she embarked on a quest to learn and write about the intoxicating world of winemaking, traveling from Paris to Spain and—after meeting her future husband, a winemaker who goes by the nickname “Wildman”—eventually settling in Australia, where she now runs a winery with him. Throughout, she pays lip service to the conversations about privilege and class that have recently ignited the culinary industry, noting the low wages grape harvesters survive on and acknowledging the historic genocide that enabled her partner to found his vineyard in South Australia. Yet at the same time, she writes without irony that she “had set out on own” after casually mentioning the several thousands of dollars she borrowed from her sister. Despite its bubbly content, this isn’t likely to inspire new converts to the pét-nat craze. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"From Paris to Australia, Signer takes us on a gripping journey to reclaim her sense of self through the medium of the natural wine she loves so much. You Had Me at Pét-Nat is a reminder of the importance of rebirth, the restorative power of love, and the invigorating gifts of nature. A must read for bon vivants and explorers alike."—Victoria James, author of Wine Girl: The Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America's Youngest Sommelier
"I lean more toward Champagne than Pét-Nat, but Rachel Signer’s addictive memoir drew me deep into the world of natural wine and into the company of its eccentric, obsessive and hedonistic citizens. Ultimately, though, it is Signer’s personal journey, her search for love and identity, which makes this such a compelling and moving book." —Jay McInerney, author of Bright Lights, Big City and Bacchus and Me: Adventures in the Wine Cellar
"You Had Me at Pét-Nat was like my favorite bottle of wine; I consumed it in one sitting. Dive head-first into the natural wine world with Rachel Signer to discover why these wines will deepen your pleasure as you meet the witty oddballs who make them. This is also the story of how one woman found healing and love when she finally let go of who she thought she should be and started living fully, wildly alive, as much as the wine in her glass." —Natalie MacLean, author of Red, White, and Drunk All Over and Unquenchable!
"An inviting coming-of-age story that, though it takes place in a world of indigenous yeast and native grapes, crown caps and biodynamic, back-to-the-earth farming, speaks to the universal yearning of anybody trying to find herself, overcome insecurities and settle on her place in the world. Ms. Signer is an engaging writer whose story will certainly make you thirsty for a bottle of natural wine and maybe even compel you to re-examine the twists and turns of your own journey."
—New York Times
"Rachel’s self-discovery story takes the reader through the Loire Valley, Paris, the Republic of Georgia, Sardinia, and her now-home of South Australia, as she learns about both natural wine and the unconventional life she thinks she wants to lead. The tale is as riveting as Rachel herself....If you love wine, travel, sustainability, or big risks, this is the book for you."—Patrick Janelle (AGuyNamedPatrick)
“Signer… takes readers on a movable feast… In this love letter to not only natural wines but also the community and ethos that sustain them, Signer shares her wine experiences, from working in a restaurant and wine shop to wine journalism and harvesting grapes, emphasizing both the traditions and environmental impact of vineyards and wine production…Her extensive journalistic experience shines through, and readers will learn never to look at a glass of wine again without considering the people pouring their hearts into every bottle.”—Booklist
"The book is an inspiration to chase your passions."—Matador Network
Library Journal
11/01/2021
Winemaker Signer (founder of Pipette magazine) navigates a burgeoning career and relationship against the backdrop of the natural wine in this breezy, accessible memoir. Readers meet Signer as a white writer and New York City waitress, as she begins to develop an interest in natural wine that ultimately sets her on a personal and professional journey across the globe. Along the way she finds herself exploring different aspects of this wine subculture and unexpectedly falls for a winemaker in Australia, pushing her to reexamine the life she imagined. The book is interspersed with regional history and background information about natural wine but will appeal to wine connoisseurs and novices alike. Signer is a curious, reflective writer throughout, but especially as she ultimately decides to follow her partner to Australia, settling in the city of Adelaide and learning about local wine culture. Readers will enjoy being introduced to the quirky, passionate characters who are dedicated to the craft of natural wine in her adopted home. VERDICT A romantic, entertaining memoir of self-discovery. Fans of culinary and travel memoirs will be entertained.—Kate Bellody, SUNY New Paltz
