Books & Bottles: Provence

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 From 6:00 PM To 7:30 PM Add to Calendar 2026-04-15 18:00:00 2026-04-15 19:30:00 Books & Bottles: Provence An elegant wine education series exploring France’s most important regions through the lens of culture, tradition, and taste. Each class embraces a region and incorporates a book as a narrative guide - framing the wines, places, and people that shaped France’s enduring wine culture. Across the series, we’ll move through key French regions in a cohesive tasting journey, offering both seasoned enthusiasts and curious newcomers a deeper, more intuitive understanding of French wine, guided by storytelling, expert insight, and shared conversation. French Library, 53 Marlborough Street, Boston, MA America/New_York

At French Library

Join us in our elegant Gallery Room for the first Books and Bottles Wine Series with a dedicated exploration of Provence.

James Beard award-winning wine expert, Cat Silirie, will guide you through Provence vineyards with references to Lulu's Provencal Table as a cultural touchstone.

Provence is revealed through its intimate connection to daily life, sun-drenched markets, and the rhythms of the Mediterranean table.

Guests will taste a curated selection of Provençal wines, from vibrant rosés to expressive whites and structured reds, examining Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle, and Mourvèdre through the lenses of place, producer, and tradition. Cat will guide participants through Provence’s defining influences: Mediterranean climate, coastal and inland terroirs, and a culture shaped by market cooking, while connecting each wine to the landscape and lifestyle that inspire it.

This class offers a thoughtful and transportive introduction to Provence, pairing culinary insight with regional depth that both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts will appreciate.

No advance reading required, but you can purchase the book here.

All our wine seminars are presented in English.
Seats are limited for an intimate experience.
Reserving your spot early is strongly encouraged.

Registration

$149/$159

About Cat Silirie

Cat Silirie has won the National James Beard Award for Excellence for outstanding wine programs. Cat has also served as the Executive Wine Director at Boston restaurants including Menton, No.9 Park, Sportello, The Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters, Drink, Stir, Rocco's, The Harvest, Galleria Italiana and Grill 23.

In addition to her James Beard Best Wine Program award, Cat is the recipient of numerous accolades, including multiple times for Boston Magazine's Best of Boston awards for both Best Sommelier and Best Wine Programs. Other accolades for her work include Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Menton in "Top-100 Wine Restaurants", for "Best Wine Bar” via Improper Bostonian for her wine program at Boston's The Butcher Shop. The Boston Globe’s Devra First has described Cat Silirie's food and wine pairings during her tenure at Menton as “transcendent with every course” and Kay Rentschler of the New York Times wrote of Cat as “Boston’s pre-eminent sommelier”.

About the Book: Lulu's Provençal Table

Lulu's Provençal Table by Richard Olney captures the traditional Provençal recipes of Lulu Peyraud, the matriarch of the renowned Domaine Tempier vineyard in Bandol, France. The book features over 150 recipes for rustic, seasonal dishes like tapenade, bouillabaisse, and ratatouille, presented with Olney's evocative prose and Lulu's personal touch, making it a definitive guide to authentic Provençal cuisine and wine culture.

There are no refunds or exchanges available for the Gastronomy and Wine Program events. Should a guest need to cancel their registration, their registration fee can be applied to a future class. Cancellations are accepted up to one week prior to the event to avoid loss of purchase.

Upcoming Events

See All Upcoming Events

Social & Community

Study in France Info Session

ONLINE INFO SESSION IN ENGLISH

Monday, August 24, 2026

Learn all about our language immersion program in partnership with the Accent Français language school in France!

Performing Arts & Screenings

Ciné Club Series: Manon des sources by Claude Berri

DISCUSSION WITH BARBARA BOUQUEGNEAU

Friday, August 28, 2026

Set amid the sun-drenched hills of Provence, Claude Berri's Manon of the Spring is a moving story of justice, forgiveness, and the enduring consequences of human choices.

Kids & Families

L'Heure du Conte

French story time!

Saturday, September 5, 2026

We invite parents and children to gather in the children's room of our library for a magical story time in French!

See All