At Poupon's Table: A Novel

Peter Mayle’s A Good Year meets Sideways in the delightful debut novel from a James Beard Award–winning American wine merchant, the renowned Kermit Lynch.Known as the man who introduced rosé to the US, legendary wine importer Kermit Lynch is as lauded for his writing as he is for his impeccable taste in wines of every variety and vintage. His thoughtful, witty notes on the subject led to the modern nonfiction classic Adventures on the Wine Route, which has been hailed as “one of the finest American books on wine” (The New York Times) and was recently celebrated with a twenty-fifth-anniversary edition.In his debut novel, Lynch presents Kendrick Thomas, an easygoing American wine merchant happily residing in Provence. Ever eager to visit old friends and enjoy all the gastronomic pleasures available in France, he often finds himself on the doorstep of Henri Poupon. Built as ruggedly as a boxer, thick of finger and feature, Poupon is as physically untamed and earthy as his skill as a chef is delicate and exquisite.In the vein of Peter Mayle, Kendrick and Poupon set off on a road trip: eating, bickering, laughing, and of course, sampling wine both good and bad. From troublesome business associates to Poupon’s shady ex-girlfriend to an appalling new cell tower tarnishing the local tranquility, At Poupon’s Table is a riotous jaunt through the French countryside that always circles back to food—and of course reds, whites, and everything in between.