Journalist Maximillian Potter uncovers a fascinating plot to destroy the vines of La Romance-Conti, Burgundy's finest and most expensive wine. In January 2010, Aubert de Villaine, the famed proprietor of the Domaine de la Romance-Conti, the tiny, storied vineyard that produces the most expensive, exquisite wines in the world, received an anonymous note threatening the destruction of his priceless vines by poison—a crime that in the world of high-end wine is akin to murder—unless he paid a one million euro ransom. Villaine believed it to be a sick joke, but that proved a fatal miscalculation and the crime shocked this fabled region of France. The sinister story that Vanity Fair journalist Maximillian Potter uncovered would lead to a sting operation by some of France's top detectives, the primary suspect's suicide, and a dramatic investigation. This botanical crime threatened to destroy the fiercely traditional culture surrounding the world's greatest wine. Shadows in the Vineyard takes us deep into a captivating world full of fascinating characters, small-town French politics, an unforgettable narrative, and a local culture defined by the twinned veins of excess and vitality and the deep reverent attention to the land that runs through it.

It’s just another gorgeous June day on Martha’s Vineyard until J.W. Jackson and his young son, Joshua, arrive home from clamming to find an ambulance in the driveway and blood on the grass. Two intruders have invaded their house. Little Diana is safe, but wife Zee has a split lip and a bruised cheek, and the difficult memory of killing one man and fending off another. The dead man and his accomplice wanted to know the whereabouts of Tom Rimini. They should have asked J.W. Tom is the husband of J.W.’s ex-wife, Carla. J.W. hasn’t seen Carla in fifteen years, but that’s about to change: Rimini’s on the run and needs J.W.’s help.

Sixteen-year-old Winnie is a creature of habit, a lover of ritual and stability. If she had her way, not much would change. But when a new family moves to town, Winnie and her three best friends--all boys--find themselves changing quickly and dramatically to impress Caleb, their strange and charismatic new companion. Under Caleb's influence, Winnie and her friends test boundaries, flirt with danger, and in the end, illuminate darkness within each other and themselves. Following a before and after structure that pivots around a mysterious and devastating fire at a local winery, Throw Down Your Shadows is a compelling exploration of the contours of young friendship and the development of powerful new appetites. Reminiscent of The Girls by Emma Cline and Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, this literary coming-of-age story feeds a growing demand in adult fiction for candid portrayals of the young female experience as complex and provocative, and announces a bold new voice in Canadian fiction.

The definitive guide to Interior BC wineries, covering the Okanagan, Similkameen, Thompson and Kootenays. With updated maps and travel tips, it’s your ultimate glove-box guide, now in a newly expanded and updated edition. For nearly fifteen years Okanagan Wine Tour Guide has been the definitive companion for travelling the winding roads of BC’s Interior wine region. In this, the 6th edition, John Schreiner and his new co-author—wine writer, podcaster, and instructor Luke Whittall—chart the latest developments at the oldest wineries and the very first vintages from the newest startups in a region that stretches along Okanagan Lake, west to the Similkameen, north to the Thompson, and east to the Kootenays. This edition includes 240 wineries (that’s over 40 openings in five years!), revised and updated maps, contact information, tasting room information, and recommendations. From pioneers like Quail’s Gate on Mount Boucherie to the newest arrivals like Cliff & Gorge in Lillooet, these stories are as varied as the personalities of the wines themselves—a few vines planted as a retirement project, a few acres purchased on a whim, or a gala grand opening underpinned by years of planning and consultation. What emerges across the guide is the sense of community and the room for wildly different philosophies on everything from growing to fermenting to naming. Whether you’re paging through the aisles of the local liquor store, sorting your Viogniers from your Syrahs, or relishing a family vineyard’s journey from its Quonset-hut years to international acclaim, John Schreiner’s Okanagan Wine Tour is the ultimate guide to and celebration of Interior BC wine.

Superbly balanced pinot noirs; crisp rieslings; rich, heady syrahs: these are only a fraction of the expertly crafted wines being produced in the Pacific Northwest's diverse and distinctive wine countries. Second only to California in production, the Pacific Northwest is the largest wine region in North America, home to more than 1,000 wineries. What was once a young wine-growing area with a reputation for eccentricity is today recognized as a dynamic region producing world-class wines, with a focus on ecologically sound practices. This definitive volume profiles the wines, the people who make them, and the wine countries of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Idaho. The journey begins with the region's climates and geology, which create a fascinating tapestry of wine-growing areas. Next, the book focuses on the unique qualities of each wine region, with profiles of more than 160 representative wineries to visit. Included are legacy wineries that helped to build the region’s reputation, prestige wineries with a national presence, under-the-radar artisan wineries that embody the pioneering spirit of the Northwest, and promising new wineries. Each profile lists the winery's signature, premium, value, and estate wines. Beautifully illustrated with photographs and helpful maps, this in-depth guide is a milestone in the North American literature on wine. It will enable wine lovers everywhere to plan their touring, select their wines, and explore and discover the riches of the Northwest's wine country.

Welcome to Ravenwood, a town where life moves at a slower pace, the air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and the sweet scent of ripening grapes, and everyone knows everyone else's business. It's a place where the biggest scandals involve missing pie recipes and the most daring adventures involve finding the perfect spot for a picnic. But Ravenwood is also a town with secrets. Beneath the surface of its idyllic charm, there are hidden rivalries, long-held grudges, and whispers of the past that refuse to fade away. And when a renowned wine critic is found dead during the town's annual wine festival, the peaceful facade of Ravenwood cracks, revealing a web of intrigue that will forever change the lives of its inhabitants. Enter Lily Matthews, a retired schoolteacher who has traded in her classroom for the serenity of her thriving vineyard. Lily leads a quiet life, finding peace in the rhythmic tasks of tending her vines and crafting award-winning wines. But when the victim's last drink is revealed to be her vineyard's prize-winning vintage, suspicion falls upon Lily. Determined to clear her name and restore peace to her beloved town, Lily embarks on an unlikely investigation with the help of her eccentric best friend, the town librarian, and her trusty golden retriever. Join Lily as she delves into the heart of Ravenwood, unearthing long-buried secrets and uncovering the truth behind the murder. From the bustling vineyards to the quaint town square, every corner holds a clue, every resident a suspect. This is a story of friendship, courage, and the unraveling of a mystery that will captivate you until the very last page.