Sommelier Cha McCoy was cycling through the plains of vineyards in Mendoza. As she took in the stunning foothills of the Andes all around her, she could have no clue that five years later this exact moment would be one of many to give her first book texture and movement.
When McCoy eventually sat down to write, she knew she wanted her book to reflect her personality, love of travel, and passion for championing lesser-known food and wine pairings. The Communion: Wine Pairing for the People, which came out in November 2025, moves beyond reinforcing rigid stereotypes, encouraging readers to approach wine much like McCoy has throughout her career.
For wine professionals who have built a platform and are passionate about reading a book that they feel doesn’t yet exist, publishing a wine book is an exciting and perhaps daunting next step. Even for those who have mastered the floor or built a loyal social media presence, entering the publishing world comes with a steep learning curve. SevenFifty Daily spoke to sommeliers and wine educators about what they learned from making the leap into publishing.
Why write a wine book?
While there are no precise figures on how many food and beverage books are published each year, Bryan Imelli, the managing director of publishing house Board & Bench, a specialist wine book publisher, points out a telling comparison: “The wine book market has always been tough. The bestselling book on smoothies outsold all of the wine books released in 2024. All of that said, book formats can still be an important form of communicating authority—possibly still the most trusted form.”
While becoming a published wine author is rarely the secret to financial success, it can help wine professionals assert their expertise and shape their career trajectory. For many, that credibility is the true reward of authorship. For Kelli White, the sommelier-turned-author of Napa Valley Then and Now and Wine Confident: There’s No Wrong Way to Enjoy Wine, it furthered her career by cementing her authority as a Napa Valley expert. “This led to speaking opportunities, job opportunities, and eventually my second book,” she says. “It’s a lot of work, but I believe writing a book offers lots of career advantages.”
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