Cookbook Club And Wine Club Combine

When it comes to book clubs, only one woman's picks have ever mattered. Others tried to capture readers' hearts with equal fervor, but none have come close to the "Oprah effect."

So when the folks at online cooking mega site Cookstr.com decided to launch a book club of their own, they knew they needed something extra special to stand out. How to steal the spotlight? Give the readers wine, of course.

Cookstr has teamed up with New York wine shop Pasanella and Son to bring you the Vino & Cookbook-of-the-Month Club. Every month, members will receive a must-have cookbook and two bottles of top-notch wine (one white, one red) that complement the book's recipes.

And like Oprah, Cookstr is starting off by reintroducing a classic: This month's selection is the encyclopedic New Basics Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins (who also penned the legendary Silver Palate Cookbook).

Even if you're a seasoned vet, you'll still get a thrill from the recipe for Not Your Mom's Meatloaf when you try it with a rustic vin de pays from France's Domaine L'Ameillaud. And if you're a kitchen novice, the Casamatta Bianco–a full-bodied, flowery white–will help you deal with your first attempt at roasted chicken, whether it's a success or not.

One-month membership, $50; three-month membership, $150; six-month membership, $300; one-year membership, $600; pasanellaandson.com