I think the first time wine and food really came alive for me from literature was when I read Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. This is way before I became a sommelier or lived in Europe and I had never heard of Mâcon or any other wine mentioned in the novel, but his descriptions really made me feel like I was savoring them alongside his characters. Maybe it’s because wine for Hemingway is not just a prop; it is tied to the culture, geography, and mood of the scenes in his novels, and often serves as a metaphor for companionship, solace, and the joy of simple pleasures—something we can all relate to.
While Hemingway references wine from several countries, I thought it would be fun to share passages from his novels in which he mentions Italian wines, most coming from A Farewell to Arms and Across the River and Into the Trees. Below you will find references to specific wines as well as Italian wine in general. Now you know what to pair with your reading if you pick up one of these books!
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
CHIANTI (TUSCANY)
“We drank dry white capri; and red wine, of which we had a bottle of Chianti. The wine was as friendly as the countryside, and we drank it dry.”
BARBERA (PIEDMONT)
“I ordered two bottles of Barbera, a simple but lively wine, and we sat by the fire to drink.”
“In the retreat, we drank Barbera, and it was lovely.”
CAPRI BIANCO (CAMPANIA)
“We had a good lunch and a bottle of Capri. It was cool and light, and it tasted faintly of the sea breeze.”
ACROSS THE RIVER AND INTO THE TREES
SOAVE (VENETO)
“He ordered Soave with the oysters. The wine came in a cold, thin bottle, and it tasted like it had been made to go with the sea.”
VALPOLICELLA (VENETO)
“Valpolicella is better than whiskey, isn’t it? It has a softness that soothes and a warmth that grows.”
PROSECCO (VENETO)
“We drank a little Prosecco to begin, and it made you feel the world was young and life was good.”
THE SUN ALSO RISES
Although the novel focuses heavily on Spanish wines, Hemingway occasionally mentions Italian wine in passing, underscoring its global appeal. One such example includes:
“We had Italian reds, simple but good, and they helped carry us through the long night.”
