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Blood From a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead
"This is the story of how wine brought me back from the dead."
Thus begins Adam McHugh's transition through the ending of one career—as a hospice chaplain and grief counselor—into the discovery of a new life in wine among the grapevines of the Santa Ynez Valley of California.
"This is the corkscrewing tale of how I got to Santa Ynez, eventually, and the questions that came up along the way," he continues. "You and I are going to take a long wine tour together on our way there, and we will make plenty of stops for a glass and some local wine history. As you will see, I reached into the old, old story of wine in order to find my new story, which begins, as so many wine love stories do, in the French countryside. Most stories about religion and drink are stories of recovery. I'm not sure if mine isn't a story about recovery too."
Adam's story is one of being forced to reevaluate and remake his life when things fell apart. But more than that, it's a story about finding healing through the good gifts of wine, friends, and the beauty of wine country. Pour a glass and join the adventure from the south of France to Champagne to the California Central Coast.
Thus begins Adam McHugh's transition through the ending of one career—as a hospice chaplain and grief counselor—into the discovery of a new life in wine among the grapevines of the Santa Ynez Valley of California.
"This is the corkscrewing tale of how I got to Santa Ynez, eventually, and the questions that came up along the way," he continues. "You and I are going to take a long wine tour together on our way there, and we will make plenty of stops for a glass and some local wine history. As you will see, I reached into the old, old story of wine in order to find my new story, which begins, as so many wine love stories do, in the French countryside. Most stories about religion and drink are stories of recovery. I'm not sure if mine isn't a story about recovery too."
Adam's story is one of being forced to reevaluate and remake his life when things fell apart. But more than that, it's a story about finding healing through the good gifts of wine, friends, and the beauty of wine country. Pour a glass and join the adventure from the south of France to Champagne to the California Central Coast.
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2022
17 people are currently reading
2980 people want to read
About the author
Adam S. McHugh
4 books136 followersContact Adam through https://linktr.ee/adammchugh or find him on Instagram @adammchughwine
Adam McHugh is a wine tour guide, sommelier, and Certified Specialist of Wine. He is a regular contributor to Edible Santa Barbara & Wine Country and a happy resident of the Santa Ynez Valley.
Adam is the author of the memoir Blood from a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead, which tells the story of how he stumbled his way from hospice chaplain and grief counselor in Los Angeles to wine tour guide and sommelier in the Santa Ynez Valley.
A former hospice chaplain and Presbyterian minister, he wrote two books while in professional ministry: The Listening Life and Introverts in the Church. He was featured in Susan Cain's bestselling book Quiet, and wrote articles on introversion and listening for Psychology Today, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and Quiet Revolution.
Adam is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and the Princeton School of Theology.
Adam McHugh is a wine tour guide, sommelier, and Certified Specialist of Wine. He is a regular contributor to Edible Santa Barbara & Wine Country and a happy resident of the Santa Ynez Valley.
Adam is the author of the memoir Blood from a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead, which tells the story of how he stumbled his way from hospice chaplain and grief counselor in Los Angeles to wine tour guide and sommelier in the Santa Ynez Valley.
A former hospice chaplain and Presbyterian minister, he wrote two books while in professional ministry: The Listening Life and Introverts in the Church. He was featured in Susan Cain's bestselling book Quiet, and wrote articles on introversion and listening for Psychology Today, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and Quiet Revolution.
Adam is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and the Princeton School of Theology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 10, 2023
Wonderful book by author Adam McHugh, recounting his journey from hospice chaplain to a completely new life in California wine country. It is both sad and reassuring to see how his life changed direction and how he found happiness in unexpected places. For all of us who yearn for home, this book helps define what that means.
February 27, 2023
Wine + loss + resurrection once again: it’s the interweaving tale I didn’t know I needed to read.
March 5, 2023
I'd have liked this more if Adam McHugh had dialed back the snarky comments. There are too many, and it comes across as a writer trying desperately to impress. While I (eventually) learned the why of McHugh's fascination for the movie Sideways, the topic takes up so much room here that it becomes tedious, too. I have a ministry degree and a background in food and wine. I moved to the country and grow stuff. I'm a retired journalist, a word person. McHugh's writing about the convergence of those things is most interesting to me. In a perfect world, this would be right in my wheelhouse. It's not.
November 8, 2022
Success is overrated - at least as a topic worth writing about. McHugh tries and fails, both personally and professionally. Then he tries and fails again. And again. Along the way, he learns a lot about wine and so does the reader. This is a great book about life, wine, and transitions. It's even better if you've been to the Santa Ynez. If not, this book will make you want to go.
November 16, 2022
Funny, thoughtful, sarcastic, and beautiful. I love memoirs and this one was a delight to read.
November 22, 2022
Maybe it's a little ironic that someone who doesn't drink alcohol (anymore) would pick up a wine-related memoir. :D LOL.
Well, I for one snagged this because I've read--and loved!--McHugh's other books, _Introverts in the Church_ and _The Listening Life_. And much of what I loved about those carried over here--his writing style, humor, etc. But, I was also a little sad, that some of the life events happened (but that's how life goes sometimes, isn't it?), and that the new venture had to involve alcohol.
I knew it going in, of course--eyes were wide open on that front, and it's hard to miss when the subtitle sets it up so perfectly! But I didn't really know how I'd react to the topic's prevalence until I got into the read. And _just for me personally_--I cannot overstate this--I need to hit the pause button. I'm not at a spot in my own walk where wine's prevalence in a read doesn't bother me. I've spent the last 46 months (as of this writing) dry and living a dry life--and have done enough work to support that that I personally need to savor and revel in. Unfortunately, that means setting aside this read.
There are so many positives, and my reasons for stopping are very personal to me--please don't take this as a blanket "let me rail on alcohol" situation, because that's not the case and Goodreads is not the platform for it. This is simply my experience with the book at this moment. I'm grateful to the publisher for the advance copy, and wish I were in a spot to continue further!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Well, I for one snagged this because I've read--and loved!--McHugh's other books, _Introverts in the Church_ and _The Listening Life_. And much of what I loved about those carried over here--his writing style, humor, etc. But, I was also a little sad, that some of the life events happened (but that's how life goes sometimes, isn't it?), and that the new venture had to involve alcohol.
I knew it going in, of course--eyes were wide open on that front, and it's hard to miss when the subtitle sets it up so perfectly! But I didn't really know how I'd react to the topic's prevalence until I got into the read. And _just for me personally_--I cannot overstate this--I need to hit the pause button. I'm not at a spot in my own walk where wine's prevalence in a read doesn't bother me. I've spent the last 46 months (as of this writing) dry and living a dry life--and have done enough work to support that that I personally need to savor and revel in. Unfortunately, that means setting aside this read.
There are so many positives, and my reasons for stopping are very personal to me--please don't take this as a blanket "let me rail on alcohol" situation, because that's not the case and Goodreads is not the platform for it. This is simply my experience with the book at this moment. I'm grateful to the publisher for the advance copy, and wish I were in a spot to continue further!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2023
Mr McHugh is a gifted writer. He brings you along his journey as he transitions from a chaplain working hospice duty through several wine related roles. He really is excellent at painting a picture of where he's working, who he's working with, and what he's feeling as he works there. It will definitely make me pause a bit more, take it all in, and truly experience wine country as I visit next time.
November 18, 2022
This is a beautiful and witty story that weaves together elements of memoir, California history, wine industry, and life pilgrimage without being like anything else you've read. Adam Hugh's words are engaging, tender and memorable as he tells the story of vocation transition from hospice care to wine hospitality. But, if you are thinking this is Yet Another Napa Valley Story, you'll be thrilled that the tale and the telling is more complex than what that first impression of a wine memoir might lead you to think.
As a reader who discovered McHugh via his first book and has read, loved and recommended both previous books, I'm impressed with the maturity and growth in his craft and skill. I found myself rereading passages or chapters with a highlighter in hand just because I enjoyed it so much.
Highly recommended.
As a reader who discovered McHugh via his first book and has read, loved and recommended both previous books, I'm impressed with the maturity and growth in his craft and skill. I found myself rereading passages or chapters with a highlighter in hand just because I enjoyed it so much.
Highly recommended.
June 19, 2023
This book was a delightful surprise -- I was drawn to it by the subtitle. I confess to wanting a bit more theological musing about life and how wine enabled the author to embrace life after some deadening life experiences, but I learned a great deal about grapes, wine, and history along the way, so I cannot bring myself to complain about it. The author is pretty open about his shortcomings and failures, but he leavens his writing with enjoyable flashes of wit and humor. -- As a result of reading this, I have added California's Santa Ynez Valley to my Bucket List!
December 7, 2022
Poignant, relatable, hilarious, beautiful.
January 22, 2023
The author is so witty. I’ve enjoyed his insight into all things wine related. Mr. McHugh takes the reader on a delightful journey.
November 23, 2022
In Adam McHugh's memoir, wine is an invitation to life.
I particularly loved the book's depiction of the way place shapes us -- and the perspective that we can savor wine as a living embodiment of place and memory.
But the passages I resonated the most deeply with were about the ways life transitions involve disorientation and grief, as we confront the loss of one version of ourselves without knowing what might take its place.
For Adam, this transition involved the losses of his job, his marriage, and his sense of self, but his experience translates frighteningly well to the post-covid identity upheaval and unresolved grief we are facing as a culture.
If you need a companion in a time of transition, this book offers understanding and a space for not-knowing. Healing comes for the author, slowly, organically. In Adam's story, you might find validation of your own.
______________________
These are some of my most underlined passages if you find yourself drawn toward this theme of transition / the pain of even good changes:
From pages 119-120: "I knew my chaplain days were finished. But I was dealing with an aftermath that was messier and more painful than I expected. A huge part of my life had been subtracted, not to mention my livelihood, and a quiet grief lingered in me. Grief is always there to meet you in the in-between, in the transition between life's seasons.
I felt like I had lost my way. That's what grief can do to you. It casts you out into the middle, suspended between two places you can't reach... You have lost something, including yourself, and you are cast into the labyrinth of grief, saying farewell to the life you have known, unaware of what lies ahead, unsure if you will return or who you will be at the end."
From pages 33-34: "I had become a stranger to my own desires, undergoing a slow detachment from the things that made me feel alive. It was as though the world turned cold with her gifts. The flavors of food had lost some of their intensity, the pierce of beauty some of its sting.
I had once burned with dangerous, impossible dreams, but now my loftiest goals seemed to turn around survival, on hanging on through the night.
... Through no real intention of my own, I had awoken to the pain of the world, and I knew I could never go back to sleep. Life questions usually scheduled for late middle age had shown up early, with arms empty. How do I live my life when so many are dying? How can I skip through the world where so many limp? How do I sleep peacefully when the lights from houses of grief across the street glare through my window? I started to feel like the chaplain had become the patient, as though I were sitting vigil at my own sick bed.
There was something in my belief system that was convinced that if I wasn't suffering, I wasn't doing something meaningful. If I wasn't pouring myself out on the altar of broken humanity, ... then I must lack faith. Now that I had opened enough to let in the pain of others, I felt I had lost the right to celebrate. Celebration seemed like denial, and denial is grief. In hospice, mourning a loss before it happens is called anticipatory grief. Celebration for me had become merely an act of anticipatory grief.
Yet, in this land of many courses, this place of such multicolored pleasures--its herb-scented hillsides aflame with mustards and magentas, its dishes and wines boasting such extravagant aromas and sultry textures--there was a spirit of celebration again beginning to bubble within me. My soul was coming alive through my senses. With each fragrant inhale I was becoming more wide-eyed. I asked this place my question, 'How can I possibly live when others are dying?' It seemed to shout back at me, 'How can you not?'
...Perhaps celebration isn't a denial of life's struggle and grief. What if it is a conscious letting go, an unclenching of our death grip on control's false promises and a surrender to what is beautiful and delicious?"
I particularly loved the book's depiction of the way place shapes us -- and the perspective that we can savor wine as a living embodiment of place and memory.
But the passages I resonated the most deeply with were about the ways life transitions involve disorientation and grief, as we confront the loss of one version of ourselves without knowing what might take its place.
For Adam, this transition involved the losses of his job, his marriage, and his sense of self, but his experience translates frighteningly well to the post-covid identity upheaval and unresolved grief we are facing as a culture.
If you need a companion in a time of transition, this book offers understanding and a space for not-knowing. Healing comes for the author, slowly, organically. In Adam's story, you might find validation of your own.
______________________
These are some of my most underlined passages if you find yourself drawn toward this theme of transition / the pain of even good changes:
From pages 119-120: "I knew my chaplain days were finished. But I was dealing with an aftermath that was messier and more painful than I expected. A huge part of my life had been subtracted, not to mention my livelihood, and a quiet grief lingered in me. Grief is always there to meet you in the in-between, in the transition between life's seasons.
I felt like I had lost my way. That's what grief can do to you. It casts you out into the middle, suspended between two places you can't reach... You have lost something, including yourself, and you are cast into the labyrinth of grief, saying farewell to the life you have known, unaware of what lies ahead, unsure if you will return or who you will be at the end."
From pages 33-34: "I had become a stranger to my own desires, undergoing a slow detachment from the things that made me feel alive. It was as though the world turned cold with her gifts. The flavors of food had lost some of their intensity, the pierce of beauty some of its sting.
I had once burned with dangerous, impossible dreams, but now my loftiest goals seemed to turn around survival, on hanging on through the night.
... Through no real intention of my own, I had awoken to the pain of the world, and I knew I could never go back to sleep. Life questions usually scheduled for late middle age had shown up early, with arms empty. How do I live my life when so many are dying? How can I skip through the world where so many limp? How do I sleep peacefully when the lights from houses of grief across the street glare through my window? I started to feel like the chaplain had become the patient, as though I were sitting vigil at my own sick bed.
There was something in my belief system that was convinced that if I wasn't suffering, I wasn't doing something meaningful. If I wasn't pouring myself out on the altar of broken humanity, ... then I must lack faith. Now that I had opened enough to let in the pain of others, I felt I had lost the right to celebrate. Celebration seemed like denial, and denial is grief. In hospice, mourning a loss before it happens is called anticipatory grief. Celebration for me had become merely an act of anticipatory grief.
Yet, in this land of many courses, this place of such multicolored pleasures--its herb-scented hillsides aflame with mustards and magentas, its dishes and wines boasting such extravagant aromas and sultry textures--there was a spirit of celebration again beginning to bubble within me. My soul was coming alive through my senses. With each fragrant inhale I was becoming more wide-eyed. I asked this place my question, 'How can I possibly live when others are dying?' It seemed to shout back at me, 'How can you not?'
...Perhaps celebration isn't a denial of life's struggle and grief. What if it is a conscious letting go, an unclenching of our death grip on control's false promises and a surrender to what is beautiful and delicious?"
April 20, 2023
Writing a review about a memoir, another’s personal and emotional story, their perspectives, and dreams seems like such a delicate challenge to accept. Since reviews are often read more than the books themselves, I hope to adequately represent my thoughts and emotions about this memoir. Author, Adam McHugh, embarks on a journey of self-discovery after losing his career as a hospice chaplain as well as his marriage. Rediscovering flickers of life through a trip to Champagne, France and through-out the central coast of California, Adam shares how wine and his spirituality leads him into a rebirth through a passion for learning about wine.
Adam is wonderfully warm in his demeanor as well as his unique and charming witticisms. He gives the reader a tour of the not so smooth pilgrimage to his healing. Good wines, divine spiritual moments, good friends, and the desire to become more wine savvy paved the way for a creatively written memoir. Adam even imparts rich wine history as well, both old world and new world. His reasoning of ‘where’ to visit in France due to his fascination with Vincent van Gogh is most captivating to my personal artist's heart. He’s certainly convinced me to research such a wine experience for myself in the near future. Then there is his love for Pinot Noir that I too share with Adam. With the multitude of references to wines throughout, you will want to have your notepad and highlighter at hand when reading his memoir.
Two of my favorite lines from Adam’s book, “Blood From A Stone” are:
“I loved wine’s ability to transport me, to enable me to taste a place and dine with people thousands of miles away. At the same time, the more I drank wines from countries I had never been to, the more I wanted to see them for myself.”
“But developing your palate to me is more about learning to pay attention, persistently seeking a fuller experience in a world of thin experiences.”
“Living so much at arm's length” a quote from Adam’s book applies deeply to my own life but now, after experiencing Adam's life through his memoir, I too look forward to living in the fullness of the name I was blessed with at birth, Hope.
Thank you Adam for your willingness to be so vulnerable . Your ability to share your journey with such engaging words had me feeling as if somehow there was room here for me too. Your deeply personal writing had me laughing, borderline crying as well as cheering you on at times. Your story has been made into a heartfelt piece of art.
Adam is wonderfully warm in his demeanor as well as his unique and charming witticisms. He gives the reader a tour of the not so smooth pilgrimage to his healing. Good wines, divine spiritual moments, good friends, and the desire to become more wine savvy paved the way for a creatively written memoir. Adam even imparts rich wine history as well, both old world and new world. His reasoning of ‘where’ to visit in France due to his fascination with Vincent van Gogh is most captivating to my personal artist's heart. He’s certainly convinced me to research such a wine experience for myself in the near future. Then there is his love for Pinot Noir that I too share with Adam. With the multitude of references to wines throughout, you will want to have your notepad and highlighter at hand when reading his memoir.
Two of my favorite lines from Adam’s book, “Blood From A Stone” are:
“I loved wine’s ability to transport me, to enable me to taste a place and dine with people thousands of miles away. At the same time, the more I drank wines from countries I had never been to, the more I wanted to see them for myself.”
“But developing your palate to me is more about learning to pay attention, persistently seeking a fuller experience in a world of thin experiences.”
“Living so much at arm's length” a quote from Adam’s book applies deeply to my own life but now, after experiencing Adam's life through his memoir, I too look forward to living in the fullness of the name I was blessed with at birth, Hope.
Thank you Adam for your willingness to be so vulnerable . Your ability to share your journey with such engaging words had me feeling as if somehow there was room here for me too. Your deeply personal writing had me laughing, borderline crying as well as cheering you on at times. Your story has been made into a heartfelt piece of art.
April 22, 2025
I never thought I would genuinely care to learn so much about wine, but the way that McHugh is able to tie something as simply as fermented juice into profound connections really does it for me.
"Maybe a life of faith doesn't mean overindulging at the table of the world's pain. Perhaps celebration isn't a denial of life's struggle and grief. What if it is a conscious letting go, an unclenching of our death grip on control's false promises and a surrender to what is beautiful and delicious? Should I mourn that the time will come when dessert will end, my last coffee cup drained? Or should I tuck into each course as hungrily as I can?"
"What wild blend of romance and daring is required to uproot yourself from what you know and transplant your life into new soil?"
"The flesh of the grape decays, but the soul of the wine lives on."
"I don't know why human life seems to require suffering for growth to take place, or why things have to be taken away from us if we are to expand."
"Can you relish the experience of blending in yet feel invisible at the same time?"
"Grief is always there to meet you in the in-between, in the transition between life's seasons."
"I fall in love with places much more easily than I do with people. But it turns out that somewheres always come with somebodies."
"Perhaps you find home where a place gets inside you."
"Maybe a life of faith doesn't mean overindulging at the table of the world's pain. Perhaps celebration isn't a denial of life's struggle and grief. What if it is a conscious letting go, an unclenching of our death grip on control's false promises and a surrender to what is beautiful and delicious? Should I mourn that the time will come when dessert will end, my last coffee cup drained? Or should I tuck into each course as hungrily as I can?"
"What wild blend of romance and daring is required to uproot yourself from what you know and transplant your life into new soil?"
"The flesh of the grape decays, but the soul of the wine lives on."
"I don't know why human life seems to require suffering for growth to take place, or why things have to be taken away from us if we are to expand."
"Can you relish the experience of blending in yet feel invisible at the same time?"
"Grief is always there to meet you in the in-between, in the transition between life's seasons."
"I fall in love with places much more easily than I do with people. But it turns out that somewheres always come with somebodies."
"Perhaps you find home where a place gets inside you."
July 20, 2023
Blood From a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead by Adam S. McHugh is unlike any memoir I’ve read. In a good way.
McHugh makes the decision to leave his position as a hospice chaplain and move into the wine industry. For anybody that has felt empty with their work, it’s lovely to see someone make the brave leap of following their passion.
I know zilch about wine and have always felt intimidated whenever “choose a bottle of wine” comes up at a group dinner. I learned a lot about wine, grapes, soil, and the history of wine. McHugh does this in such an interesting way that I’d enjoy learning more. And I don’t even drink wine.
I recommend this book for anyone. This memoir isn’t pigeon-holed to a specific audience.
My appreciation to Adam McHugh and InterVarsity Press (IVP) for the LibraryThing Giveaways printed copy.
McHugh makes the decision to leave his position as a hospice chaplain and move into the wine industry. For anybody that has felt empty with their work, it’s lovely to see someone make the brave leap of following their passion.
I know zilch about wine and have always felt intimidated whenever “choose a bottle of wine” comes up at a group dinner. I learned a lot about wine, grapes, soil, and the history of wine. McHugh does this in such an interesting way that I’d enjoy learning more. And I don’t even drink wine.
I recommend this book for anyone. This memoir isn’t pigeon-holed to a specific audience.
My appreciation to Adam McHugh and InterVarsity Press (IVP) for the LibraryThing Giveaways printed copy.
August 31, 2024
Three stars might be a little harsh, but this is obviously part of a series (#14). I jumped into the middle, it didn’t seem to make much difference, and the ending leaves open the possibility of more books to come. Detective Brunetti is given (then taken away by his superior, Patta) a murder case involving a “vu cumpra “ a foreigner who sells knock off purses, etc on the sidewalks of the piazzas of Venice. I’ve been to Venice three times so I did recognize some of the landmarks, so that was fun. Much of the book focuses on Brunetti’s home life, especially the long lunches, involving his wife, Paola, and their two kids. Typically Italian, there’s lots of lengthy descriptions of what they’re eating. Ha. There’s a cast of characters that I’m sure I would’ve met in the first 13 books that he calls upon for background information to the murder. At 92% of my way through the novel, I’m wondering how the heck is this going to end, when voila (I know that’s French) a final clue appears. Needless to say, I was surprised that the case was wrapped up so unceremoniously.
I might read another Leon edition of this detective series or maybe not
I might read another Leon edition of this detective series or maybe not
October 2, 2023
I loved every word of this book and found myself rereading whole paragraphs as I progressed through the book in order to fully appreciate the poignant, humorous, sometimes snarky writing.
I found this book highly relatable as the author describes his move to the very same area to which my husband and I moved this summer. Adam McHugh's descriptions of the place we already love helped us fall even more deeply in love with the Santa Ynez Valley.
Beyond a description of a place and an industry (wine), McHugh's book is a deeply personal memoir of a vocational crisis and how he worked his way through grief and rediscovery. An ordained minister, he burned out as a hospice chaplain and found a new passion as a wine specialist. The passages where he connects wine and spirituality—in particular, Christian spirituality—were some of my favorite pages. I will definitely revisit them.
I highly recommend this thoughtful, witty, insightful, entertaining book.
I found this book highly relatable as the author describes his move to the very same area to which my husband and I moved this summer. Adam McHugh's descriptions of the place we already love helped us fall even more deeply in love with the Santa Ynez Valley.
Beyond a description of a place and an industry (wine), McHugh's book is a deeply personal memoir of a vocational crisis and how he worked his way through grief and rediscovery. An ordained minister, he burned out as a hospice chaplain and found a new passion as a wine specialist. The passages where he connects wine and spirituality—in particular, Christian spirituality—were some of my favorite pages. I will definitely revisit them.
I highly recommend this thoughtful, witty, insightful, entertaining book.
January 24, 2025
(Copying what I wrote on Amazon, because it's one of the few reviews I've actually posted and it doesn't seem to auto-import when you link your Amazon account)
If you've read Adam's previous works, Blood From a Stone comes out of left field and joyously so. Out from behind the pulpit, Adam sits down to share a heart-to-heart conversation about finding himself. And as it turns out, it's a gripping page-turner.
You may find yourself cringing more than once, but Adam laughs at himself and gives you permission to join in, then gives you a hug to celebrate. Adam's voice and journey through life are on full display, and before you dismiss this as an autobiography, he does it in a way that is truly a story of wine and community that left me wondering how I'd known so little about places and history on my doorstep.
One of the best reads I had this year.
If you've read Adam's previous works, Blood From a Stone comes out of left field and joyously so. Out from behind the pulpit, Adam sits down to share a heart-to-heart conversation about finding himself. And as it turns out, it's a gripping page-turner.
You may find yourself cringing more than once, but Adam laughs at himself and gives you permission to join in, then gives you a hug to celebrate. Adam's voice and journey through life are on full display, and before you dismiss this as an autobiography, he does it in a way that is truly a story of wine and community that left me wondering how I'd known so little about places and history on my doorstep.
One of the best reads I had this year.
August 19, 2023
3.5 stars. I thought the parts that were personal and internal or the parts that were directly about wine and his experience with it were very good. I think there were too many long digressions. I’m generally interested in some digressions and learning new things. The history and sequence of Spanish missions in California? Too long. Even for me. The geology and geography of the Santa Ynez? Too long. Whenever he would write himself back into the story, though, it was great. I wanted more. And I would have loved more on his spiritual journey. There was a bit there but he left a lot off the pages that I would love to hear. Both as a reader and a pastor. But overall, this book was to my tastes. Wine and spiritual journey. I’m here for it. I’m glad I read it.
September 1, 2023
Blood From a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead by Adam McHugh is an excellent memoir. McHugh was a hospice chaplain, burnt out at work and going through a rough patch in his marriage, when a trip to France taught him to appreciate wine in a new way. Eventually, he takes the big step of giving up his calling to work in the wine industry.
McHugh has a self-deprecating tone and lively sense of humor, which makes the book a joy to read. Like all engaging memoirs, it is thoroughly entertaining and also makes you think. I plan to give this one to several people I know will love it as much as I do.
McHugh has a self-deprecating tone and lively sense of humor, which makes the book a joy to read. Like all engaging memoirs, it is thoroughly entertaining and also makes you think. I plan to give this one to several people I know will love it as much as I do.
August 5, 2023
Blood From a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead by Adam McHugh 272 pages
This is one of those books that I picked up for the title and bought for the first sentence: “This is the story of how wine brought me back from the dead.” To my embarrassment, I had not bothered to notice the book’s subtitle; but even if I had, I probably would have not even bothered to read the first sentence, just bought it.
Adam McHugh was a hospice chaplain who worked nights. No wonder he was depressed. That’s a really tough gig. And it’s no wonder that he took up drinking with wine being the beverage of choice.
I’m not sure what I thought this book was going to be about, but it wasn’t a history of wine and winemaking. It was so dry, I could barely stay awake to read it.
Blood From a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead receives 2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
This is one of those books that I picked up for the title and bought for the first sentence: “This is the story of how wine brought me back from the dead.” To my embarrassment, I had not bothered to notice the book’s subtitle; but even if I had, I probably would have not even bothered to read the first sentence, just bought it.
Adam McHugh was a hospice chaplain who worked nights. No wonder he was depressed. That’s a really tough gig. And it’s no wonder that he took up drinking with wine being the beverage of choice.
I’m not sure what I thought this book was going to be about, but it wasn’t a history of wine and winemaking. It was so dry, I could barely stay awake to read it.
Blood From a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead receives 2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
September 1, 2023
This is more than a love letter to Santa Ynez and wine, although both shine throughout. This is a book about finding oneself again, anew, even after the pain of job and marriage loss. You don’t need to love California to love this book, although you’ll be itching to take a Central Coast vacation as you read. The book left me longing for only one thing—a list of Adam’s top wineries to visit in the area.
July 9, 2025
A book about wine written by a hospice chaplain. You wouldn't think it would work, but it does. While I could've done with a little less description of the scenery, I was able to really get into the history of the places and wines he wrote about so lovingly. I was even inspired to try out my very first bottle of French wine, though it wasn't any of the expensive bottles he mentioned and its region of origin remains unknown to me.
June 30, 2025
I love the unusual combination of topics in this book! My favorite parts were the history and metaphor of wine-making and its related agriculture. McHugh's story of changes in his occupation and personal life is also relatable and interesting. The title is very apt, and the reading was pleasant. I learned lots about the growing of grapes, and California geography.
January 23, 2025
3.5 stars. There were a few moments that kind of smacked me in the face and forced some introspection. I wanted a bit more from the hospice chaplaincy time. Happy that A’s in a better spot for him now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2025
Audiobook.
This memoir is as much about wines as it is about his life story. His passion for wine is infectious. I found his descriptions and explanations of vineyards fascinating. I don't know much about wine but this book entices me to learn more.
This memoir is as much about wines as it is about his life story. His passion for wine is infectious. I found his descriptions and explanations of vineyards fascinating. I don't know much about wine but this book entices me to learn more.
April 23, 2023
Good book, I think I should have read it rather than listened to the audio so that I could have given my own interpretation. The narrator sounded "flip" to me, no matter what he was describing.
May 9, 2023
Learned a lot about wine! A good, quick read
June 2, 2023
3.7/5
September 9, 2023
Really interesting book with lots of fabulous with history
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews