Wine Poetic: Paul Monette

Location:

Anaïs

196 Bergen Street Brooklyn, NY 11217

Event:

​Wine Poetic is where the worlds of wine, spirits, poetry, and history converge. This immersive symposium invites participants to delve into the life and works of a noteworthy poet while tasting a curated selection of site-specific wines (and occasionally spirits & other ancestral libations) from the poet's country of origin.

​Selected readings bleed into mini lectures, which segue into guided tastings and generative writing exercises, all of which spark rousing discussions and incredible poetry to be written and felt in equal measure. Every gathering is an opportunity to hone one's craft, uncover new histories, enliven the palate, and redefine the poetic experience - all within a supportive community.

For our next Wine Poetic installment, PSNY & GNOSES present the life and work of prolific poet, memoirist, and AIDS activist Paul Monette—a fierce and tender voice of queer resistance in 1980s California.

The program will include:

A deep dive into the life, loves, and literary legacy of Paul Monette, led by writer and educator Tova Greene.

A brief history of the AIDS crisis in California, co-presented with AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a nonprofit providing HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and advocacy.

A guided tasting of the evening’s featured wine, plus a mini-lecture on California’s winemaking prowess, led by writer and sommelier Darby Wagner (GNOSES).

​Discussion questions that explore the (in)visible threads between the selected beverages, poet, country, and spontaneous poetics of the evening.

​Selected readings and generative writing exercises, plus a chance to be a part of the Wine Poetic zine!

​Please bring a journal, a writing utensil, and an open spirit!