Malbec

I’ll admit: I approached *Malbec* skeptical that a book about a single grape variety could hold my attention for three hours. I was wrong. Jackson’s writing has the pacing of a well-structured tasting menu—each chapter unfolds like a new course, revealing another layer of Malbec’s improbable rise. The standout moment? Her recounting of Michel Aimé Pouget’s 1853 mission to smuggle Malbec cuttings to Argentina, a gambit that reads like a heist thriller with higher stakes (and more paperwork). Stella June’s narration elevates the material further; her pronunciation of French and Spanish terms feels effortless, and she nails the tone—equal parts scholarly and conspiratorial, like a professor letting you in on a delicious secret. That said, the audiobook isn’t flawless. The transition between historical deep dives and modern winemaking trends occasionally feels abrupt, as if Jackson couldn’t decide whether this was a history book or a travelogue. And while June’s performance is largely excellent, her cadence in the denser technical sections (hello, soil pH discussions) sometimes drags, making those moments feel like a lecture hall detour in an otherwise sprightly journey. Still, these are minor quibbles. What *Malbec* lacks in polish, it makes up for in charm and sheer enthusiasm for its subject. By the final chapter, you’ll not only understand why Malbec rules Argentine wine—you’ll be mentally booking a ticket to Mendoza.