François-Henri Désérable releases wine-centered novel ‘Le Palais’

Writer François-Henri Désérable has released a new novel titled ‘Le Palais’ (Gallimard), which focuses on the world of fine wines. The author noted that while wine has historically been a literary inspiration for exploring human emotion, it rarely serves as the primary subject of a novel.

The story follows Arun Kumar, an Indian orphan adopted by restaurateurs in Burgundy in 1998. After discovering he possesses an extraordinary palate capable of detecting hundreds of aromas, Kumar studies oenology and eventually moves to New York high society. The narrative was partially inspired by the real-life story of Rudy Kurniawan, an oenology expert turned wine forger.