Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond by Cha McCoy, renowned Certified Sommelier and owner of The Communion wine boutique, is a groundbreaking exploration of wine, global cuisine, and the cultural connections that bring people together around the table. With a foreword by Stephen Satterfield, the book challenges traditional Eurocentric approaches to wine pairing, demonstrating that the vibrant flavors of African, Caribbean, Asian, Latin American, and Southern American cuisines deserve the same thoughtful attention as classic European dishes. Blending practical wine education with culinary storytelling and international travel, McCoy makes wine appreciation more inclusive, approachable, and culturally expansive.
Organized geographically, the book guides readers through regional food traditions, wine-producing regions, and innovative pairing principles, exploring how to complement bold spices, acidity, sweetness, and complex flavors. McCoy offers pairing recommendations for dishes such as Moroccan Tagine, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Mexican Elote, Shrimp Po’ Boys, Peach Cobbler, and Pad Thai, alongside 25 recipes contributed by acclaimed chefs and mixologists, each accompanied by suggested wines. Beautiful photography, maps, illustrations, and thoughtfully curated menus enrich the experience, making the book both a practical reference and an invitation to explore the world's culinary diversity.
Winner of the 2026 James Beard Award for Beverage Book Without Recipes, a 2026 NAACP Image Award nominee, and recognized by The New York Times as one of the most interesting wine books of 2025, Wine Pairing for the People is especially appealing for wine enthusiasts, home entertainers, sommeliers, global food lovers, Black foodways collectors, and readers interested in the intersection of wine, cultural heritage, and culinary exploration.
