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Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond—A Certified Sommelier on Pairing Wines with Diverse Cuisines
SAVEUR THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR WINE AND SPIRITS LOVERS
NEW YORK TIMES MOST INTERESTING WINE BOOKS OF 2025
A first-of-its-kind guide to pairing wine with foods from Africa and beyond, including a tour of wine regions across the globe and a foreword by Stephen Satterfield, from renowned Certified Sommelier Cha McCoy.
The wine world often says food and wine that grow together, go together, and that spicy, tangy, salty, and sweet flavors are a challenge to pair. But what about foods from regions where wine grapes aren’t prevalent? What about global cuisines—many of which are outside of Europe—that celebrate heat and tang? Don’t these traditional foods deserve the perfect wine pairing? Cha McCoy, Certified Sommelier and owner of The Communion wine boutique, knows that good foods and wines go together and that the cuisines of Africa, Asia, and the Americas are just as worthy of great pours.
In this first-of-its-kind guidebook, Cha McCoy pairs wines with foods from Africa, Asia, and beyond, blending practical information with a side of aspirational armchair travel. Cha shares her journey of learning and connecting with deep culinary traditions and regional cuisines around the world, diving in by continent and then by region or country, from Africa to the Caribbean, from Latin America to the United States of America, and Asia, and exploring their winemaking regions.
Throughout, you’ll see pairing lists and menus to easily find wines to savor with whatever food you’re craving, whether it’s Moroccan Tagine, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Mexican Elote, Shrimp Po’ Boy, Peach Cobbler, or Pad Thai. Plus, you’ll find 25 recipes for global fare from renowned chefs and mixologists that represent the heritage of each destination, with food accompanied by suggested wine pairing, to complete the meal.
Whether you’re curious about what to eat on your next trip abroad, want to try out a local restaurant, or are looking to explore a new cuisine to cook at home, Wine Pairing for the People will not only guide you on what to eat but how to best highlight the flavor of your meals with successful pairings. Complete with a foreword by Stephen Satterfield, and stunning photographs, maps, and illustrations throughout, this groundbreaking book boldly Wine is for everyone.
NEW YORK TIMES MOST INTERESTING WINE BOOKS OF 2025
A first-of-its-kind guide to pairing wine with foods from Africa and beyond, including a tour of wine regions across the globe and a foreword by Stephen Satterfield, from renowned Certified Sommelier Cha McCoy.
The wine world often says food and wine that grow together, go together, and that spicy, tangy, salty, and sweet flavors are a challenge to pair. But what about foods from regions where wine grapes aren’t prevalent? What about global cuisines—many of which are outside of Europe—that celebrate heat and tang? Don’t these traditional foods deserve the perfect wine pairing? Cha McCoy, Certified Sommelier and owner of The Communion wine boutique, knows that good foods and wines go together and that the cuisines of Africa, Asia, and the Americas are just as worthy of great pours.
In this first-of-its-kind guidebook, Cha McCoy pairs wines with foods from Africa, Asia, and beyond, blending practical information with a side of aspirational armchair travel. Cha shares her journey of learning and connecting with deep culinary traditions and regional cuisines around the world, diving in by continent and then by region or country, from Africa to the Caribbean, from Latin America to the United States of America, and Asia, and exploring their winemaking regions.
Throughout, you’ll see pairing lists and menus to easily find wines to savor with whatever food you’re craving, whether it’s Moroccan Tagine, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Mexican Elote, Shrimp Po’ Boy, Peach Cobbler, or Pad Thai. Plus, you’ll find 25 recipes for global fare from renowned chefs and mixologists that represent the heritage of each destination, with food accompanied by suggested wine pairing, to complete the meal.
Whether you’re curious about what to eat on your next trip abroad, want to try out a local restaurant, or are looking to explore a new cuisine to cook at home, Wine Pairing for the People will not only guide you on what to eat but how to best highlight the flavor of your meals with successful pairings. Complete with a foreword by Stephen Satterfield, and stunning photographs, maps, and illustrations throughout, this groundbreaking book boldly Wine is for everyone.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
4 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 8, 2025
2025 Goodreads Choice Awards (Mai's Version) - Readers' Favorite Nonfiction
Excuse my French, but "Fuck Eurocentrism."
🦁 A F R I C A 🦁
[Morocco]
I'm craving tagine. And I always feel a bond with countries that have also been colonized by France. Down with your oppressors!
As Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, they are not typically known for their wine, although there are some producers. Unfortunately, most wines are produced with European grapes.
🍴 🍷 Fish Kebabs + Sauvignon Blanc
[Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria]
West African culture is the Black American experience. Let's not gloss over the slave trade, or how southern cuisine is basically West African cuisine. I'm actually so tired of how white southern chefs get so much credit.
The jollof rice comparison sheet has me rolling. The Senegalese version, thiéboudienne, is made with broken rice, a remnant from French colonization. We Vietnamese also use broken rice for cơm tấm, so I may be partial to this version. Do not show this to my Nigerian friends.
🍴 🍷 Fufu with Light Soup + Barbera
[Ethiopia and Somalia]
Do I want to brave the lack of parking on Fairfax to get my fix of injera and t'ej?
Somalians serve stews with rice or pasta, as they were once occupied by Italy. I was going to say fun fact, but oppression isn't fun.
🍴 🍷 Doro Wat + Valpolicella Ripasso
[Kenya and Tanzania]
I weirdly know a lot about Tanzania. Pre-accounting, I worked in marketing and sales for a luxury safari company based in Tanzania compiling custom itineraries. Expensive trips. Expensive people.
I'll take any mention of Anthony Bourdain. I've always loved food, but he got me to appreciate different cultures, travel, and my own people. I have never seen another white man talk about Vietnam with such love, and so little cringe.
🍴 🍷 Zanzibar Pizza + Grillo
[Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cape Verde]
We move on to Portugal as a colonizer. Still bad. But I enjoy listening to Portuguese as a language. After French, obviously. I don't want to hear it. I know.
🍴 🍷 Peri Peri Chicken + Arinto
[South Africa]
Very high on my travel list. Money and PTO say no. Pretty rude.
Should I put in a bulk order for South African Cabs? Anyone in? You?
🍴 🍷 Biltong + Pinotage
💦 T H E C A R I B B E A N 💦
[Puerto Rico]
Known for being part of the States, but not really, there is more to this island than that.
🍴 🍷 Pinchos + Syrah
[Cuba]
My middle school bestie's mom is from Cuba. Her ropa vieja is literally to die for. Same girl got me on Porto's before I even moved to LA. Did I move to LA for Porto's? No. But did I?
The wine + cigar pairing is very amusing to me.
🍴 🍷 Picadillo + Super Tuscan
[Dominican Republic and Jamaica]
The author is from New York, and both of these cuisines are heavily prevalent there. I am reminded of the PARTS UNKNOWN episode set in Queens, where Tony Bourdain explored a great swath of the world without ever leaving his city.
🍴 🍷 Arroz con Pollo + Cannonau
[Barbados]
I'm glad I'm not the only one that went, "Rihanna!" On a slightly different note, one of my favorite people from grad school, Maxine, is from here.
🍴 🍷 Beef with Potato Roti + Dolcetto
🌶️ L A T I N A M E R I C A 🌶️
[Mexico]
Mexico City is one of my favorite places I've ever been. I love to tell everyone, whether you want to hear it or not. It's cosmopolitan. The food scene is thriving. The bar scene is incredible. Some of the best speakeasies I've ever been to.
A bustling city of immigrants, you can eat anything from the best sushi to tacos al pastor. Sushi, you may ask? Japanese immigration was prevalent during the 1800s. And tacos al pastor are a fusion food made by Lebanese immigrants.
Polanco is a fantastic neighborhood. I'm still dying to make it to Pujol.
🍴 🍷 Mole Poblano + Nero d'Avola
[Chile]
Unrelated to everything, but as a native Texan, I implore other Texans to stop using the Chilean flag for Texas.
I love a pisco sour. One of the best sours. I just love sour.
🍴 🍷 Plateada + Malbec
[Argentina]
The hottest family I ever knew was from Argentina. It didn't click until way later, but they, along with about 60% of the population, have an Italian surname. This Italian inflected Spanish is spoken in Argentina and Uruguay. Sexy.
Argentina exports soybean meal? Do they hate me? (I, an Asian, have a soy allergy.)
If you're ever in Houston, go to The Original Marini's Empanada House. Get two gauchos and a guava cheese. You're welcome.
🍴 🍷 Empanadas + Bonarda
[Brazil]
In the 2010s, I, too, was obsessed with Brazilian models. Male models. Alex Cunha, Francisco Lachowski, and Marlon Teixeira to name a few. So the book does list Brazil's biggest exports, but I'm here to say it's hot people. Follow me for more facts.
Don't forget about Japanese Brazilians. Had a weird obsession with Juliana Imai, too. Why is everyone hot?
🍴 🍷 Pão de Queijo + Chardonnay
🗽 U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A 🗽
[Soul Food]
If you're ever in LA, Hatchet Hall has some of the best grits I've tasted outside of the South. Yes, it was a rec. No, I'm not telling you from who. You may already know.
I'd also watch HIGH ON THE HOG. Fascinating history of this cuisine.
I love fried catfish and collard greens. God, I miss Luby's. IYKYK
🍴 🍷 Sweet Potato Pie + Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
[Lowcountry]
Do I need Carolina Gold rice? I might.
Is there anything better than crab fat and rice? I don't think so.
🍴 🍷 Shrimp and Grits + Rosé
[Barbecue]
I knew the listed states were famous for barbecue, but didn't realize it was legit called the Barbecue Belt. I love this.
I actually prefer a vinegar based sauce, but as a Texas native, I am not allowed to say this. So I am not saying this.
The Texas Hill Country is popping off with some great wine. Calais is my favorite winery, where a French native makes French style wines with Texas grapes.
🍴 🍷 Texas-style Barbecue Brisket + Tempranillo
[Creole]
New Orleans is its own world. I would kill for some gumbo right now.
🍴 🍷 Crawfish Étouffée + Dolcetto
🥡 A S I A 🥡
[China]
Thank you for talking about the Chinese Exclusion Act, and how this led to Chinese Americans owning American Chinese (it's a separate cuisine) restaurants, since no one wanted to hire them.
🍴 🍷 Beef and Broccoli + Trollinger
[Japan]
Everyone I know went to Japan post-COVID. That yen conversion.
🍴 🍷 Karaage + Crémant de Loire
[South Korea]
I cried the entire BTS concert, but my first foray into K-pop was 2010 with BIGBANG.
I will watch the occasional K-drama, but my slutty ass prefers the noona romances where they fuck episode 1. I cannot do the slow burns where they don't kiss until episode 16. 하지마
Since Sonny joined LAFC, I've been an even more annoying international soccer fan than normal.
🍴 🍷 Haemul Pajeon + Arneis
[Southeast Asia]
My people.
I didn't get why white men were so obsessed with this area until, I too, visited my homeland (and some of its surroundings). It's beautiful. The culture is deep. Much wandering is to be had. Don't get me wrong. They're still cringe as hell. But I loved it, too.
I appreciate the use of diacritics when listing Vietnamese food. It didn't used to be important to me, but I will now die on this hill.
🍴 🍷 Bánh Chưng + Auslese
[Turkey]
Another predominantly Muslim country that has some limitations on how much wine it can produce. Is it too capitalist to say "just make your money," or nah?
🍴 🍷 Döner Kebab + Bobal
[Georgia]
Not to be confused with the US state! This is at Americans. I am an American. Get offended. IDC
I love an orange wine. Is that basic?
🍴 🍷 Khinkali + Tsolikouri
[United Arab Emirates]
I kind of want to go to Dubai. But I also kind of don't want to go where I have less rights and can't dress how I want or behave how I want. Not that I'm big on PDA, but sometimes I am. And that's a choice.
🍴 🍷 Palestinian Maqluba + Barbera
[India]
Growing up, I knew a family with the surname Rodrigues. Before I knew this was a Portuguese surname, this confused me, as the family didn't look Latine. And they're not. They're South Asian. This is from the Portuguese colonization of Goa.
When you say chai, don't add tea. You're literally saying tea tea. You look and sound stupid.
🍴 🍷 Chicken Tikka Masala + Catawba
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest
Excuse my French, but "Fuck Eurocentrism."
🦁 A F R I C A 🦁
[Morocco]
I'm craving tagine. And I always feel a bond with countries that have also been colonized by France. Down with your oppressors!
As Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, they are not typically known for their wine, although there are some producers. Unfortunately, most wines are produced with European grapes.
🍴 🍷 Fish Kebabs + Sauvignon Blanc
[Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria]
West African culture is the Black American experience. Let's not gloss over the slave trade, or how southern cuisine is basically West African cuisine. I'm actually so tired of how white southern chefs get so much credit.
The jollof rice comparison sheet has me rolling. The Senegalese version, thiéboudienne, is made with broken rice, a remnant from French colonization. We Vietnamese also use broken rice for cơm tấm, so I may be partial to this version. Do not show this to my Nigerian friends.
🍴 🍷 Fufu with Light Soup + Barbera
[Ethiopia and Somalia]
Do I want to brave the lack of parking on Fairfax to get my fix of injera and t'ej?
Somalians serve stews with rice or pasta, as they were once occupied by Italy. I was going to say fun fact, but oppression isn't fun.
🍴 🍷 Doro Wat + Valpolicella Ripasso
[Kenya and Tanzania]
I weirdly know a lot about Tanzania. Pre-accounting, I worked in marketing and sales for a luxury safari company based in Tanzania compiling custom itineraries. Expensive trips. Expensive people.
I'll take any mention of Anthony Bourdain. I've always loved food, but he got me to appreciate different cultures, travel, and my own people. I have never seen another white man talk about Vietnam with such love, and so little cringe.
🍴 🍷 Zanzibar Pizza + Grillo
[Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cape Verde]
We move on to Portugal as a colonizer. Still bad. But I enjoy listening to Portuguese as a language. After French, obviously. I don't want to hear it. I know.
🍴 🍷 Peri Peri Chicken + Arinto
[South Africa]
Very high on my travel list. Money and PTO say no. Pretty rude.
Should I put in a bulk order for South African Cabs? Anyone in? You?
🍴 🍷 Biltong + Pinotage
💦 T H E C A R I B B E A N 💦
[Puerto Rico]
Known for being part of the States, but not really, there is more to this island than that.
🍴 🍷 Pinchos + Syrah
[Cuba]
My middle school bestie's mom is from Cuba. Her ropa vieja is literally to die for. Same girl got me on Porto's before I even moved to LA. Did I move to LA for Porto's? No. But did I?
The wine + cigar pairing is very amusing to me.
🍴 🍷 Picadillo + Super Tuscan
[Dominican Republic and Jamaica]
The author is from New York, and both of these cuisines are heavily prevalent there. I am reminded of the PARTS UNKNOWN episode set in Queens, where Tony Bourdain explored a great swath of the world without ever leaving his city.
🍴 🍷 Arroz con Pollo + Cannonau
[Barbados]
I'm glad I'm not the only one that went, "Rihanna!" On a slightly different note, one of my favorite people from grad school, Maxine, is from here.
🍴 🍷 Beef with Potato Roti + Dolcetto
🌶️ L A T I N A M E R I C A 🌶️
[Mexico]
Mexico City is one of my favorite places I've ever been. I love to tell everyone, whether you want to hear it or not. It's cosmopolitan. The food scene is thriving. The bar scene is incredible. Some of the best speakeasies I've ever been to.
A bustling city of immigrants, you can eat anything from the best sushi to tacos al pastor. Sushi, you may ask? Japanese immigration was prevalent during the 1800s. And tacos al pastor are a fusion food made by Lebanese immigrants.
Polanco is a fantastic neighborhood. I'm still dying to make it to Pujol.
🍴 🍷 Mole Poblano + Nero d'Avola
[Chile]
Unrelated to everything, but as a native Texan, I implore other Texans to stop using the Chilean flag for Texas.
I love a pisco sour. One of the best sours. I just love sour.
🍴 🍷 Plateada + Malbec
[Argentina]
The hottest family I ever knew was from Argentina. It didn't click until way later, but they, along with about 60% of the population, have an Italian surname. This Italian inflected Spanish is spoken in Argentina and Uruguay. Sexy.
Argentina exports soybean meal? Do they hate me? (I, an Asian, have a soy allergy.)
If you're ever in Houston, go to The Original Marini's Empanada House. Get two gauchos and a guava cheese. You're welcome.
🍴 🍷 Empanadas + Bonarda
[Brazil]
In the 2010s, I, too, was obsessed with Brazilian models. Male models. Alex Cunha, Francisco Lachowski, and Marlon Teixeira to name a few. So the book does list Brazil's biggest exports, but I'm here to say it's hot people. Follow me for more facts.
Don't forget about Japanese Brazilians. Had a weird obsession with Juliana Imai, too. Why is everyone hot?
🍴 🍷 Pão de Queijo + Chardonnay
🗽 U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A 🗽
[Soul Food]
If you're ever in LA, Hatchet Hall has some of the best grits I've tasted outside of the South. Yes, it was a rec. No, I'm not telling you from who. You may already know.
I'd also watch HIGH ON THE HOG. Fascinating history of this cuisine.
I love fried catfish and collard greens. God, I miss Luby's. IYKYK
🍴 🍷 Sweet Potato Pie + Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
[Lowcountry]
Do I need Carolina Gold rice? I might.
Is there anything better than crab fat and rice? I don't think so.
🍴 🍷 Shrimp and Grits + Rosé
[Barbecue]
I knew the listed states were famous for barbecue, but didn't realize it was legit called the Barbecue Belt. I love this.
I actually prefer a vinegar based sauce, but as a Texas native, I am not allowed to say this. So I am not saying this.
The Texas Hill Country is popping off with some great wine. Calais is my favorite winery, where a French native makes French style wines with Texas grapes.
🍴 🍷 Texas-style Barbecue Brisket + Tempranillo
[Creole]
New Orleans is its own world. I would kill for some gumbo right now.
🍴 🍷 Crawfish Étouffée + Dolcetto
🥡 A S I A 🥡
[China]
Thank you for talking about the Chinese Exclusion Act, and how this led to Chinese Americans owning American Chinese (it's a separate cuisine) restaurants, since no one wanted to hire them.
🍴 🍷 Beef and Broccoli + Trollinger
[Japan]
Everyone I know went to Japan post-COVID. That yen conversion.
🍴 🍷 Karaage + Crémant de Loire
[South Korea]
I cried the entire BTS concert, but my first foray into K-pop was 2010 with BIGBANG.
I will watch the occasional K-drama, but my slutty ass prefers the noona romances where they fuck episode 1. I cannot do the slow burns where they don't kiss until episode 16. 하지마
Since Sonny joined LAFC, I've been an even more annoying international soccer fan than normal.
🍴 🍷 Haemul Pajeon + Arneis
[Southeast Asia]
My people.
I didn't get why white men were so obsessed with this area until, I too, visited my homeland (and some of its surroundings). It's beautiful. The culture is deep. Much wandering is to be had. Don't get me wrong. They're still cringe as hell. But I loved it, too.
I appreciate the use of diacritics when listing Vietnamese food. It didn't used to be important to me, but I will now die on this hill.
🍴 🍷 Bánh Chưng + Auslese
[Turkey]
Another predominantly Muslim country that has some limitations on how much wine it can produce. Is it too capitalist to say "just make your money," or nah?
🍴 🍷 Döner Kebab + Bobal
[Georgia]
Not to be confused with the US state! This is at Americans. I am an American. Get offended. IDC
I love an orange wine. Is that basic?
🍴 🍷 Khinkali + Tsolikouri
[United Arab Emirates]
I kind of want to go to Dubai. But I also kind of don't want to go where I have less rights and can't dress how I want or behave how I want. Not that I'm big on PDA, but sometimes I am. And that's a choice.
🍴 🍷 Palestinian Maqluba + Barbera
[India]
Growing up, I knew a family with the surname Rodrigues. Before I knew this was a Portuguese surname, this confused me, as the family didn't look Latine. And they're not. They're South Asian. This is from the Portuguese colonization of Goa.
When you say chai, don't add tea. You're literally saying tea tea. You look and sound stupid.
🍴 🍷 Chicken Tikka Masala + Catawba
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest
June 27, 2025
Overall I enjoyed the book. I thought it had a unique perspective by showing how different cultures pair wine. I especially appreciated the focus on Africa and diverse regions to feature and highlight. I liked the intro and the setup for wine pairing terms as well. However I felt the regional sections were too text dense. I found some of it repetitive and wished for more photos of dishes and or wines as a visual aid to break up the page. However I enjoyed the book overall and felt everyone could take away something from it.
November 11, 2025
Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond by Cha McCoy is an insightful and refreshing take on how wine connects with global cuisines and communities. McCoy brings deep knowledge and a welcoming tone, blending history, culture, and practical advice into a guide that celebrates inclusivity and curiosity. Some sections can feel a bit detail heavy, but her passion and perspective keep it engaging. It’s an inspiring and educational read that expands how we think about wine as a bridge between cultures and experiences. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this early release in exchange for my review.
December 14, 2025
Wine Pairing for the People focuses on wine pairing to compile with certain cuisines. The cookbook covers on wine tasting and all things wine. The Sections are divided into Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, United States of America, and Asia. Each section discusses the regions history, culture, and its connection to wine. Though some sections were quite text heavy overall they were very informative. The region then covered popular dishes and a wine that would accompany.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews