Henry Jeffreys on wine and class to Atlantic

Clare Drysdale, Group Associate Publisher of Atlantic Books, has bought World English language rights to a new book by Henry Jeffreys from Philip Gwyn Jones at Greyhound Literary. The provisionally titled Sloshed: The Story of Wine and Class from Petronius to Partridge will be published in hardback, audio and ebook in October 2027 on the Allen & Unwin UK imprint. Atlantic has also acquired the rights to Jeffreys’ award-winning Empire of Booze following the collapse of Unbound and will republish in paperback in April 2026.

Henry Jeffreys worked in the wine trade and in book publishing before becoming a writer. He was Fortnum & Mason Drink Writer of the Year in 2022 and is the author of four books, including Vines in a Cold Climate, which was shortlisted for the James Beard awards, Guild of Food Writers Awards, 67 Pall Mall wine writing awards and won the Fortnum & Mason Drink Book of the Year 2024. Along with Tom Parker Bowles he hosts the ‘Intoxicating History’ podcast.

Wine is the perfect prism through which to understand class, social mores, politics and culture. In this entertaining and colourful history, Henry Jeffreys picks ten epochs, ranging from the ancient world and the Bacchus-worshiping antics of Mark Antony to present day debates over natural wines, and examines the role wine played in each society.

Henry Jeffreys says,

‘I am delighted to be working with Atlantic again as they did such a magnificent job with my last book, Vines in a Cold Climate. This new book is on a subject that has long fascinated me, the meeting of wine and class.’

Philip Gwyn Jones says,

‘All corks popped when the reunion of Henry Jeffreys with Atlantic was agreed. Atlantic did such a good job with Henry’s prize-winning book on English wine that it was the right and good thing to return to the vineyard with them for another juicy harvest in the shape of Henry’s next book. I am especially delighted that Henry shall be working with Clare Drysdale, whose publishing palate is so peerlessly subtle and acute.’

Clare Drysdale, Group Associate Publisher of Atlantic Books, says,

‘Henry Jeffreys is incapable of writing a dull sentence. He’s masterful at educating his readers while never making it feel like homework. Wine and class promise to be a delicious pairing.’