Bri Books

Merry Christmas! Today's episode of Bri Books 'BriCember' is an honest and loving reflection on the holiday season, grief, and where we meet in the middle. In this episode, we reflect on the experiences of people who are sitting with parental loss (or any loss TBH) during the holiday season.

I'll be sharing my own reflections on my holiday memories with my mother, the feeling of an invisible missing 'seat at the table' that we may notice during this time of year, the power of reliving and remaking traditions, grieving the holidays and fantasies that never were, and the glimmer of light that's visible in our shared memories.

Listen to my Mother's Day episode of Bri Books inspired by my mother, Michele Jimerson. Subscribe to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode Summary: Madeira wine is fortified, heat-aged, and famously long-lived. In this episode of Bri Books, we break down how Madeira is made, why it tastes the way it does, and explore tasting notes from three standout producers: Justino's, Henriques & Henriques, and D'Oliveiras. Subscribe to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In This Episode:

• What Madeira wine is and how it's made

• Why heat and oxidation are intentional

• Tasting notes from three Madeira producers

• How to drink and pair Madeira wine

Producers Discussed:

• Justino's Madeira Wines

• Henriques & Henriques

• D'Oliveiras (Imported by The Rare Wine Company)

Subscribe to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Welcome back to Bri Books 'BriCember' as we explore Switzerland's secretive yet spectacular wine scene. From the herbaceous Chasselas grape to elegant Pinot Noir blends, discover the best Swiss wines, top wine regions, and NYC hotspots like The Lavaux Wine Bar for tasting Swiss wine.

In this episode:

• Why 98% of Swiss wine stays in the country

• The six major Swiss wine regions: Geneva, Three Lakes, German Switzerland, Ticino, Vaud, Valais

• Spotlight on the Chasselas grape and why it pairs perfectly with raclette and fondue

• Swiss wines worth tasting:

  • Robin de Vignes, Vilette 2022 (Chasselas, Lavaux AOC)

  • Dôle des Monts Red, Gilliard 2020 (Valais AOC, Pinot Noir/Gamay)

  • Weingut Fromm 2018 Pinot Noir Village (Graubunden)

  • Caves du Paradis, Avalanche Fendant 2022 (Valais)

• My NYC favorite: Lavaux Wine Bar, home of Swiss wine flights and artisanal cheese

Links & Resources:

• Lavaux Wine Bar NYC: 630 Hudson Street

• Swiss Wine

• Swiss Wine Week: Official website

Subscribe to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a review, and share what you're drinking on Instagram using #bribooks.

Welcome back to Bri Books! In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of orange wine, one of the oldest and most misunderstood wine styles in the world. Discover what orange wine really is, how it's made, how it tastes, and why Austrian and Georgian producers excel at this method.

I also share highlights from the Orange Glou Wine Fair, including some of my favorite importers and bottles:

• D-I Wine (Alsace, France): Domaine Brand's Tout Terriblement (100% Gewurztraminer)

• Donkey and Goat Winery (California): Elen Ridge Vineyard Stone Crusher (Roussanne)

• 8000 Vintage Selections (Georgia): Nikalas Marani Rkatsiteli 2020 and Vellino Wines Kisi 2020

Plus, we explore standout Austrian orange wines:

• Heinrich Graue Freyheit (Burgenland)

• Weingut Pittnauer Perfect Day (Burgenland) from Savio Soares Selections

• Fidesser Orbis (Weinviertel)

• Weingut Schmelzer Sämling Orange 2017

Learn practical tips on how to taste, serve, and enjoy orange wine, and why it's so food-friendly. Whether you're new to orange wine or already a fan, this episode is your guide to tasting something different!

Listen and Subscribe:

• Apple Podcasts:

• Spotify:

• Website: bribookspod.com

Connect on Instagram: Listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Leave a review if you're enjoying the show. Tell me what you're drinking using #BriBooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Welcome back to Wine Week on Bri Books: BriCember! In this episode, we dive into Austrian wine — one of Europe's most exciting and under-discussed wine regions. From Burgenland's signature red grape Blaufränkisch to the steep hillside vineyards of Steiermark, this episode explores what makes Austrian wine so distinctive, sustainable, and food-friendly. I shares firsthand experiences from a Wein Burgenland seminar, break down key regions, and highlight my favorite Austrian red and orange wines to know right now.

We cover:

• Why Austria is one of Europe's best-kept wine secrets

• Austria's commitment to organic and environmentally conscious viticulture

• The role of the Austrian Winegrowers' Association and the DAC system

• What makes Blaufränkisch Austria's most important red grape

• Why Burgenland is the heart of Austrian red wine

• Steiermark wines: hillside vineyards, limestone soils, and hand-harvested precision

• Austrian orange wines and why Austria excels at skin-contact whites

Wines mentioned:

Blaufränkisch & Red Wines

• Erich Sattler St. Laurent 2020 , Imported by Zev Rovine in NY

• Judith Beck Blaufränkisch 2021, imported by Zev Rovine in NY, shop here

• Markus Altenburger Blaufränkisch vom Kalk 2020, imported by Jenny and Francois Selections

• Meinklang Blaufränkisch 2020

Regions Discussed

• Burgenland

• Steiermark (Südsteiermark DAC)

My favorite Austrian wine links and resources

• Shop Wein Burgenland wines
• Austrian Wine: Burgenland
• Orange Glou Wine Fair

Follow & Subscribe to Bri Books! Listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Leave a review if you're enjoying the show. Tell me what you're drinking using #BriBooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Welcome back to Bri Books! When you're hosting, choosing wine can feel daunting. Whether it's a dinner party, work event, last-minute gathering, or impromptu holiday shenanigans, here's the simple framework I rely on that never fails.

In this episode, we'll cover:

1. The three-bottle wine buying formula (red, white, wildcard)

2. How to taste wine at home: My 4 Pillars of Place: Temperature, Terrain, Soil, and Touch

3. How to build a wine list for parties or dinner

How to Build a Wine Menu: Bri's 3-Bottle Formula

To avoid overwhelm at the wine shop, use this formula:

1. One white wine

2. One red wine

3. One wildcard.

That's it. Simple, flexible, and stress free. Let's dig in:

1. Crisp white as the Opener. This white wine is your opener—the bottle people drink while they arrive, settle in, chat, and snack. White wins are crisp, flexible, and food-friendly. I look for wines with high acidity and good minimality, the kind that leave you gently puckering and refreshed. A crisp white wine creates an immediate sense of ease and joy at the table. My go-to white wine categories:

   1. Chablis

   2. Gruner Vetliner

   3. Albrino

   4. Sauv blanc, from Loire

   Why this works:

   1. These wines pair well with almost anything: cheese, vegetables, oysters, seafood

   2. They don't overpower food

   3. They make excellent aperitif wines

   4. They set the tone for the meal by brightening flavors and waking up the palette

2. Red wine as the main event. Your red wine is your main event. You're looking for a crowd-pleaser that's food friendly, adaptable, and easy to drink. it can be tempting to bring a big, heavy, dramatic, oak-driven red-but gatherings call for something more communal. Look for reds with:

   1. Medium body

   2. moderate tannins

   3. high drinkability

   Red wines I recommend:

   1. Boujulais

   2. Tempranillo (especially rioja joven)

   3. Etna Rosso reds

   4. Cotes du Rhone

   These red wines shine with soups and stews, tomato based dishes, roasted vegetables, poultry, and cozy winter meals.

3. The wildcard: the personality hire wine. Go for an orange wine, a sparkling red like Lambrusco, a pet-nat, or a liter bottle of something fabulous and weird like a Madiera dessert wine. Bubbles are always a win. A dessert wine course moves your guests through the final stages of the evening, and a liter bottle keeps things flowing. Use the wildcard to spark conversation about what there wine comes from, how it's made, and why it tastes the way it does.

How to Do an At-Home Wine Tasting Using the 4 Pillars of Place

My 4 pillars framework helps you understand where your wine comes from, even without the label.

1. Temperature: Look at the wine. Color intensity can give you climate clues.

2. Terroir: Smell the wine. Aromas reflect whether grapes grew near the sea, mountains, forests, or plains

   1. ltitude = floral, lifted flavors

   2. Warm climate = ripe, deeply drinkable

   3. Coastal = salty, breezy, fresh finish

   4. Mountain = Sharp, linear, mineral

   5. Valley floor = lush, smooth

   6. Volcanic = smoky, stony, earthy flavors

3. Soil: Taste the wine. Texture reveals the soil type. As a reminder:

   1. limestone = chalky, saline wine

   2. Volcanic = smoky, ashy flavors in the wine

   3. Granite = crunchy, bright, often 'cool' flavors in the wine

   4. Clay = smooth, plush, slightly pucker-y in flavor

   5. High a

4. Touch: Notice winemaking styl. Is it bright? Clean? Raw? Heavy sediment? Is it sharp? Does it grip? Touch is the easiest pillar to learn and the quickest path to understanding what you like.

You can always find Bri Books on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and at bribookspod.com.

Welcome back to Bri Books BriCember, and welcome to Wine Week! I'll be breaking down the age-old question: "What makes wine good?," and sharing my 'four pillars of place' to help you start to build your good wine vocabulary.

• 0:39: Breaking down 'good wine.' REmember, wine is an agricultural product. Let's set the stage for practical, place-based approach to wine.
• 1:12: Why 'terroir' matters + the 'pillars of place.'
• 1:51: Pillar 1: Soil type. Soil determines minerality, texture, and structural feel.
• 2:31: Pillar 2: Climate. Climate influences fruit ripeness, acidity, and aromatic profile. Cool climate = fresh, high acid; warm climate = ripe, fruity, plush.
• 3:23: Pillar 3: Elevation and aspect. Elevation affects temperature swings (diurnal shifts). Sunlight, rainfall, and altitude shape ripeness and freshness.
• 4:33: Pillar 4: Vine health and farming. Farming practices (organic, biodynamic, low-intervention) matter. Yield, canopy management, and vine age influence quality. Winemakers' traditions are the key expression of terroir.
• 5:25: Deep dive: soil as the "starting palette" for winemaking.
• 6:10: Deep dive: climate and elevation's impact on wine aciditiy and aromatics.
• 7:52: Deep dive: farming practices and the importance of winemaking traditions
• 9:55: Wine as an agricultural product, and my appreciation for farmers
• 10:56: What's ahead on wine week! Upcoming episodes include how to do an at-home tasting exercise, Austrian wine, Swiss wine, orange wine, Madiera wine, and wine from Burgenland.

You can always find Bri Books on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and at bribookspod.com.

Welcome back to Bri Books podcast! If this is your first time, WELCOME! And if you're a return listener from the last 6 (!!!!!!) years, welcome back. Bri Books is now also on YouTube: watch here.

Today is November 30th, marking not just the beginning of Advent season, but the beginning of BriCember!

What is BriCember?

BriCember is a personal project wherein I challenge myself to produce and publish a podcast episode a day in the month of December. Not only is December my birth month, it's also the perfect time of the year to catch up on where you've been and where you're going.

What's Coming Up This BriCember?

In 2025, I'll be approaching BriCember through the lens of literature, with lots of recommendations of what to read. But I'm also aligning it not just with the month, but with how we think of time. This BriCember will be aligned with the moon phases.

But Wait, Where Have You Been, Bri?I've spent most of 2025 in flux, in the most beautiful way. Last year, in 2024, I began a new career at JPMorganChase. In 2025, I started to find my professional stride. I also moved house in 2025! I moved from one apartment in Brooklyn to another, and I'm nesting. We'll be doing deep dives into winter food as well this BriCember. Also, I'm still reeling from the fallout of my mothers' death. That's a constant on my mind. Which brings me to….writing! I'm officially writing again, and I'm focused on writing and publishing in 2026. I'm giving myself the rest of the year to sharpen up my writing, so I can graduate to having an agent and finishing my book. I've been reorganizing my life in very tiny, quiet ways, and art has been a big part of 2025. I've been painting, and I've been traveling. I'm grateful that travel has been part of my working life in 2025. This year, I went to Sydney, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; Hong Kong; and Singapore, in addition to Western China and Mexico. Prayerfully there will be more travel in 2026.

What's Coming in BriCember 2025

I've broken each week of December according to the moon cycles.

Week 1: All about wine! Holiday wine menu planning, how to spend $60 at your local wine shop, Austrian wine, Madeira, orange wine, and having fun learning about terroir in the wine world.

Week 2: Winter reset! We'll shift into how to prepare for a restful winter, my favorite health and beauty picks of 2025, gentle goal-setting, how to go gently into the new year; what to grow and sow in the new year! Lifestyle toolkit; manifestation journaling and how to get started; a winter mid-season check-in;

Week 3: Cozy-maxxing! Winter recipes, soups, and spices; winter food rituals; what's in season at the farmers market in winter; deep winter books/ the best books to hunker down with this winter

Week 4: Prepping! What we want to bring into 2026 (and what we're leaving in 2025); gratitude journaling; manifestation journaling; how to round out 2025 gently and with discernment.

Listen to Bri Books and find @BrionnaJay on Instagram. You can always find Bri Books on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and at bribookspod.com.

Welcome to Bri Books, and Happy Mother's Day to the matriarchs out there. I'm excited to share this episode because I want to honor my own mother, Michele Jimerson, who passed away February 13, 2024. I have so much gratitude and humility for my mother, her story and her life.

I spent Mother's Day Weekend, the second since my mother's death, at a retreat in Morristown, NJ hosted by Arthouse2b, a multidisciplinary group of artists cultivating Catholic arts renewal in NYC. Their aim is to restore culture through restoring the heart of the artist.. The retreat was centered on the hart of christ, and it came down to: God is made to endure your suffering. He specializes in broken hearts. that's where He shines. One poignant point that struck me during the retreat, was then when I'm rebellious in my thoughts and not using my creative energy the way God has set aside for me to use it, it grieves Him. i think of all the times as a kid when I'd grieve my mother over silly things—but she never stopped loving me. Why would she?

The same grievouos disappointment your own mother feels, mirrors what God feels. And as much as that disappointment is compounded, so is the generosity of spirit that comes with vulnerability before the Lord. With me experiencing so much gratitude for my own mother and her story, this point felt especially powerful to me.

When I mention the way my mom passed way, it feels like a plot in a novel, or something I'm revealing for a sick shock value. The truth is, Michele Jimerson died in a hit and run accident on February 13, 2024. It occurred as she was crossing the street using her wheelchair, feet from her front door, en route back from a doctor's appointment. She was hit by two cars. Neither car stopped, and the case remains unsolved today.

As I reflect on this truth in the wake of Mother's Day, what impacts me the most about the way my mother's life ended, is that I'm neither angry nor sad. As we do our due diligence with lawyers to get answers, more than anything, I just feel deeply grievous for the people who struck her and didn't stop. yes, they created a pain by not stopping, but they also compounded their own pain. I can't imagine how that feels. That pain doesn't belong to me. I feel the shocks and aftereffects of it, but it's not mine. And my vulnerability is what is most valuable to both God and myself. I was so grateful to be surrounded by Arthouse2b members, artists, playwrights, founders, etc. I felt very much like my mother's presence walked the retreat halls and gardens with me.

In the next episode, I'll share the poem I authored while on the retreat, and share more reflections on approaching spring in the wake of grief. Somethin'gs growing. :) With that, thank you for listening to Bri Books. I'd love to hear your favorite stories of your mothers. Leave them in the comments on @BrionnaJay on Instagram, and in the Spotify comment. You can always find Bri Books on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and at bribookspod.com. Thank you again Arthouse2b!

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I'm sharing the 7 best sunscreens for dark skin. It's the dog days of summer: when temperatures start to soar around sunrise. I'm somewhat on the sunscreen beat, you could say, thanks to my writing about SPFs at Glamour.com. My stories include a review of Black Girl Sunscreen and '11 Women of Color on the Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin.'

• 1:30: The fact is, anyone, no matter skin tone, can get sunburned. Repeated unprotected sun exposure can cause skin damage, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. It's no secret that historically the beauty industry hasn't made slathering up with SPF an enjoyable experience--far too many formulations aren't made to blend in on dark skin. I'm sharing with you my holy grail picks that don't leave a greasy residue or ashy tone behind.
• 2:55: #1: Black Girl Sunscreen's founder, Shontay Lundy, was having a beach day in Miami and had a hard time finding a sunscreen that didn't leave residue on her skin. At that moment, BGSS was born as a solution for Black women looking to protect their skin. Since they've, they've expanded nationally to Target stores and secured a $1M investment recently. One of my favorite things about BGSS is that it absorbs quickly and is a great base for makeup. I can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to sweat without worrying if sunscreen is leaving streaks down my face. BGSS is available at Target for $15.99.
• 4:20 #2: La Roche Posay SPF 100 Anthelios Face and Body sunscreen: This is a sunscreen I reach for whenever I'm on a beach or outdoors all day. At SPF 100, it's great for children and adults with sun-sensitive skin. It melts right into the skin and is great if you need to be confident in your SPF protection if you're hiking, walking, or at the beach. I recommend it for part of your year-round SPF collection. La Roche Posay SPF 100 is available online for $25.00.
• 5:36: #3: Peter Thomas Roth Max Matte SPF 45: This mattifying shine control sunscreen feels so luxurious. I love the weightless, sheer finish it gives. The texture feels like any other moisturizer, but with the protection of sunscreen. Pro tip: Use this SPF to create your dream tinted moisturizer: I recommend applying a few drops of liquid foundation into the SPF. Also, this sunscreen is phenomenal for the decolletage, and for building the habit of applying sunscreen to the neck, collar, top of the chest, and other areas that are prone to burning. Peter Thomas Roth Max Matte SPF 45 is available for $34 at Sephora.
• 7:25 #4: La Roche Posay AOX SPF Serum: This has become my favorite SPF serum because it reminds me of the importance of wearing sunscreen year-round. During winter, when we don't have to worry about sweat, we have to stay vigilant about wearing sunscreen. It's lightweight enough to be worn alone, with a moisturizer, or under makeup. La Roche Posay AOX SPF Serum is available for $42.50.
• 8:20: #5: Bask Suncare SPF 30: This sunscreen feels good and does good at the same time. Bask Suncare partners with the Sun Protection Foundation to increase access to sunscreen. This reef-safe SPF is free of oxybenzone, parabens, sulfates, and irritants, and I feel the light vanilla and coconut scent gives a childhood memory of days and nights spent outside. Bask Suncare SPF 30 is available for $28 at Basksuncare.com
• 9:40 #6: Sol de Janerio Bum Bum Sol Oil SPF30: This super luxe feeling and smelling oil formula combines reef-safe SPF30 and skin smoothers like capucha butter and acai oil. It's infused with Sol de Janeiro's iconic fragrance, and it's one of the sunscreens I reach for if I'm having a long day in the sand or a sweaty day in NYC. After showering, I'll throw this oil on my body and go about my day. The scent has peachy-tropical notes with hints of coconut vanilla. It truly smells like summer. Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Sol Oil SPF30 is available for $38.
• 11:20 #7: Farmacy Green Defense Mineral Sunscreen: This zinc oxide mineral sunscreen sits on the skin surface to reflect damaging UVA and UVB rays. This is a great SPF pick if you want to dip your toe into the world of mineral sunscreens. I put it on the areas that are underlooked and prone to burning, like the back of my legs, the inside of my arms, etc. It's definitely the SPF I'll be using this fall and winter to remind me that if the sun's up, the sunscreen's gotta go on. Farmacy Green Defense Mineral Sunscreen is available at Sephora for $36.

ARTICLES MENTIONED

1. 11 Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin
2. Black Girl Sunscreen Review

SPF GRAPHICS/ INSTAGRAM POSTS

1. 6 Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin IG Reels

3 Beach-Perfect Sunscreens for Your Next Beach Day