7 Books To Sip With This Autumn’s Glass of Wine

There’s something about autumn that makes you want to curl up with a glass of something brilliant and a book that transports you somewhere else entirely. Maybe it’s the shorter days, the soft glow of a lamp, or the fact that a glass of Pinot just tastes even better when you’re under a blanket. Whatever the reason, we’ve paired up some of our favourite autumn reads with the kind of Vagabond wines you’ll want to sip while you turn the pages.

1. The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane

We start with the godfather of nature writing. Macfarlane’s meditations on moors, rivers and coastlines are practically a wine flight of their own. You’ll want something crisp, clean and English in hand – an Albariño or Ortega that mirrors the clarity of his prose.

2. Hidden Places by Sarah Baxter

An atlas of secret corners around the world. From tucked-away temples to forgotten villages, it’s basically the book equivalent of our wine machines – full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Best enjoyed with an aromatic white that reveals itself slowly, glass by glass.

3. The Overstory by Richard Powers

An epic of trees, people and time. Dense, sprawling, full of roots and branches that surprise you at every turn. Sip something earthy and complex, like a bold Tempranillo or an oaky Pinot Noir. This is not a one-glass read.

4. A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders

Part short-story masterclass, part love letter to Russian literature. Saunders guides you through the mechanics of narrative with charm and wit. Pour yourself a glass of something playful, maybe a pét-nat or a juicy Gamay, and let him do the heavy lifting while you nod along knowingly.

5. The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn

If The Salt Path was the walk, this is the exhale. Raynor’s writing about landscape, recovery and renewal deserves something equally restorative. A mineral-driven Chardonnay will do the trick – calm, reflective, and quietly uplifting.

6. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Trapped in a hotel but finding a whole universe in its walls, Count Rostov is a reminder that sometimes the smallest spaces hold the biggest stories. The right pairing? A silky red, perhaps a Cabernet Franc, to keep you company as you while away the hours.

7. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Fungi. Networks. Connections. The hidden world beneath our feet that changes how you see everything above ground. This one calls for something wild and unconventional, like an orange wine – cloudy, intriguing, and guaranteed to spark a few late-night debates.

So what’s the point?

Autumn is for leaning into the cosy, the thoughtful and the slightly indulgent. Grab a book, pour yourself a glass from the tap, and let the season do its thing. After all, what’s better than a wine bar that doubles as a library for your imagination?

A book for the ride

If you want to dig even deeper, every six-bottle case you order from us comes with The Vagabond — our very own guide to wines and regions. Think of it as your pocket-sized passport to the world of wine. Part map, part journal, part mischievous drinking companion, it’s there to make sure that whatever you’re pouring, you know the story behind it.