Champagne Baby

March 1, 2016
How one Frenchwoman's stint in New York City helped her find her roots. Dugas' family has been in the wine business since her great-grandmother cultivated their first vines in Champagne back in the 1930s. "As a girl I watched my mother open a bottle of her family's champagne at nearly any excuse," she writes. "A friend stopping by the house? Champagne! The sun coming out after a little rain? Alors! Champagne! But the truth is that I knew almost nothing about it, except that there was plenty in the pantry." Despite her lack of knowledge, Dugas jumped at the chance to work for her uncle as a wine representative in the United States. She could live in New York City, learn English, and be able to travel America, all while learning about wine. In this delightful memoir, the author recounts her first two years in New York, first working for her uncle, then as a champagne rep for Pringent, and finally as an assistant to a small importer of quality French wines. In the beginning, Dugas struggled to interact with her roommates and business associates while discussing wines in a language that didn't flow as readily across her tongue as the vintages she poured for her potential clients. But she soaked it all up, the good and the bad, and discovered sheer pleasure in learning as much as possible about each of the wines she represented. She also branched out to experience new wines with a small circle of friends and her boyfriend, who moved from France to New York to be with her. Dugas shows the U.S. from a foreigner's perspective, which brings an interesting slant to her story. She also includes informative sections on all types of wine in each chapter, providing a minicourse in oenology. A Frenchwoman entertainingly reflects on what she learned about herself, her family's wine business, and wines in general while living in the U.S.

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Starred review from June 1, 2016

Both sides of Dugas's family have experience in the wine industry, but the author herself had little interest in the business until her vintner uncle offered her a job selling his wines in the United States. Dugas said, "why not?" even though she didn't speak English, had never been to the area, and knew nothing about the variety of beverages. That understated, open-minded writing style and approach to life characterizes Dugas's account of arriving in New York and traveling the country to distribute French wine. Readers will learn a bit about wine, specifically the taste, smell, and origins of French styles. VERDICT Dugas's story of being a recent university student and eager to jump at life's chances will resonate with audiences both young and old, wine aficionados and newcomers. [See Memoir, 4/15/16; ow.ly/DDkU3008IGn.]--Amy Lewontin

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2016
With youthful curiosity and an adventuresome spirit, Dugas recounts her experiences leaving her Parisian family, friends, and boyfriend behind to improve her skills in the English language. Born into a family rooted deeply in French wine in the Champagne and Rhone appellations, her knowledge and interest in the business was surprisingly slight. Thus, when her uncle offered her a short-term position to work as his brand ambassador, she jumped at the opportunity to travel the U.S. and learn English. Thrust into a myriad of new experiences, she finds her way in a story as captivating as finding a new beloved wine. Her strong work ethic made up for her inadequacies within the industry yet left her enamored of wine and desiring to enhance her knowledge of this newfound love. The story is also bolstered by lessons and recommendations for learning and appreciating new and interesting wines. This insightful memoir has the capacity to inspire and charm the novice wine drinker while also reinforcing and reminding the well-seasoned palate of the romance, the seduction of wine.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)