Author Talk + Tasting: Cha McCoy, Wine Pairing for the People

We are thrilled to welcome James Beard Award finalist Cha McCoy to the shop on Tuesday, May 19th for an author talk, Q&A, book signing, and tasting to celebrate her debut book, Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond. A certified sommelier and founder of the wine dinner series The Communion, Cha brings her expertise to a wider audience, championing that wine is for everyone and exploring global food and wine pairings beyond the traditional European lens to include Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Join us for a moderated discussion with Cha and Marcia Jones of Urban Connoisseurs accompanied by a glass of wine! Guests must be 21+.

Reservations are non-refundable and can include a signed copy of the $35.00 book. Applicable sales tax and a $2.50 transaction fee are also included. Can't attend but still want a signed book? Order here for shipping or in-store pickup!

About the book: 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? 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. 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.

Cha McCoy, MBA, is an entrepreneur, educator, and a NAACP-nominated author. As a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, she developed The Communion, a wine dinner series that offers an inviting, accessible approach to gathering and enjoying wine. This experience inspired her to open her first brick-and-mortar, The Communion Wine & Spirits, and her debut book, Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond. The dinner series was profiled in Food & Wine, and Cha was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40. Cha has held coveted positions, including Cherry Bombe Magazine’s first beverage director, the head of beverage for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and a sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Portugal. Passionate about education, she spends her spare time mentoring and teaching at her alma mater, Syracuse University, where she served as an adjunct professor, educating and inspiring new wine drinkers. Catch Cha if you can in Harlem, New York—or on one of her international adventures.