Release day for Between the Vines by Tricia Stringer
There’s a signed paperback giveaway too.
(GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED)
The photos are of beautiful Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon vines, the winemaker at work and a selection of wines Tricia assures us she only sampled in the name of research.
Over to Tricia… (there’s an extract from the book below too. Don’t miss it.)
Between the Vines was such a lot of fun to write. It combines two of my loves, writing and wine – what wasn’t to enjoy? In South Australia we are lucky to have several wine regions but I have to admit it’s only in recent years I’ve discovered the Coonawarra region. I’ve certainly sampled their wine over the years but when my son moved there as an assistant wine maker I made it my business to find out more about the area. Coonawarra is famous for its reds having special Terra Rossa soil and a climate that is preferred by red winemakers.
I have often been in a group of people visiting cellar doors, sampling delectable wines and taking home a boot full of treasures to be drunk later. They never seem to last long at my house! I do try to get my head around all the things winemakers say about their wine but the bottom line for me is do I like it or not?
On one of my visits to a Coonawarra I spent time observing people at various cellar doors and I listened more carefully as the people pouring the wine explained its qualities in detail. How do they remember all that stuff? Of course a few beginner cellar door workers told me about their cheat sheets and that was the catalyst for this scene in my book, Between the Vines. Adelaide girl, Taylor Rourke has only recently lobbed at Wriggly Creek Winery and didn’t imagine she’d find herself working in the cellar door. She’s on her own when three men turn up expecting a meeting with Mr Starr. She’s hopeful winemaker, Peter Starr, will turn up any moment to help her but in the meantime she decides to press on.
She’s given up everything for love: it could be the biggest mistake of her life…
Taylor Rourke wants to change her impulsive ways when it comes to romance and not fall for any man on a whim, but then on a hen party trip to a Coonawarra vineyard, she meets Edward Starr. Gorgeous and charismatic, Edward is enough to make any girl give up her flat and job in Adelaide and move to the country.
So it’s something of a shock that when she gets there, Edward is nowhere to be seen. Not wanting to admit she may have made a mistake and return home in disgrace, Taylor accepts the job that Edward’s younger brother Pete offers her and throws herself into her work, keen to learn as much as she can about the wine trade.
Taylor is thrilled when Ed returns, but she quickly discovers he may not be the man she thought he was. Her growing friendship with Pete causes tension between the brothers who have fallen out over a woman in the past. That’s not the only source of conflict: Pete has a dream to save the family vines, Edward’s dreams lie elsewhere.
As the lies and deceit grow, matters come to a head in the vibrant and demanding vintage season. Will Taylor’s dream of a new life and love between the vines come true? Or is there only heartbreak ahead?
Set in the beautiful Coonawarra vineyards, a wonderful feel-good rural romance from best-selling Australian author, Tricia Stringer
Extract from Between the Vines by Tricia Stringer
The other two Chinese men nodded and smiled. Taylor set up three glasses on the bar.
“Would you like to start with the whites?” she asked.
“We prefer the reds,” the tall man said. He hadn’t introduced himself.
Mr Cheng spoke to Mr Zhu who nodded.
“We will begin with the whites,” Mr Cheng said firmly, ignoring the man on his other side.
Taylor took a bottle of riesling from the fridge. She noticed a slight tremor of her hand. How ridiculous. She could nail this. She glanced at the tasting notes, took a deep breath and began to speak as she poured.
“This riesling has aromas of citrus blossom and lemon zest.” She glanced back at the notes. “With a touch of minerality.” Whatever that meant. “And flavours of lemon sherbet and granny smith apple, a hint of chalkiness…”
The men looked at her expectantly.
“Frames the end.” Taylor hoped her smile would cover up any jumbled words.
They picked up their glasses. While the tall man was all about sniffing and sipping and spitting into the barrel designed as a spittoon, the two Chinese men simply swallowed the wine and sat their glasses back on the bar. They both smiled and nodded at her.
She reached for the next white, skimmed a look over the notes and poured.
“Our sauvignon blanc grapes come from the cooler, maritime climate at Mount Benson. This wine was produced after a cold winter and a mild spring which produces the best sauvignon blanc.” She paused. Once more the tall man was sticking his nose in the glass while the other two simply smiled and swallowed. “Er, you might notice, er–” she glanced down, “–melon, passionfruit and gooseberry…it’s clean and crisp with a bright zippy finish.” The last words came out in a rush as the two Chinese men placed their glasses on the bar and smiled.
Where was Peter? She felt so out of her depth. The chardonnay was next and then the sparkling shiraz. She worked her way through the wine list, providing a more and more garbled rendition of the tasting notes. By the end she was making it up. At least Mr Zhu couldn’t understand her and Mr Cheng’s English was a little stilted, but she had noticed the other man raise his eyebrows once or twice when she’d stumbled over her words.
By the time they had tried the shiraz and the cabernet sauvignon, Mr Zhu and Mr Cheng were very merry and tall guy very serious.
“Can’t you call Mr Starr?” he asked her. “I have to drive Mr Zhu back to Melbourne tonight.”
“Tonight?” That would explain the spitting.
“It’s a five-hour trip.”
Taylor looked around. Did she leave them here and walk up to the sheds looking for Peter? There was one more bottle of red sitting beside those already tasted. It had a different label and was a cabernet reserve, whatever that meant. Perhaps something special. She hoped so as she picked it up.
“One more to taste,” she said. She flipped over the tasting notes. Nothing mentioned a reserve wine. She removed the lid and poured. This time she noticed tall guy swallow instead of spit, although he didn’t down his glass as quickly as the other two.
“I’ll take a dozen of these,” he said when he finished savouring the wine. “How much will that be?”
Taylor’s mind went into a spin. “Excuse me a minute,” she said. “I’m only new here.” She sifted through all the tasting notes and lists she could find but nothing mentioned a reserve cabernet sauvignon. She found a box of them under the bar. There was one missing, no doubt the bottle she’d just opened. “I’ve only got eleven,” she said, lifting the box to the bar.
Tall guy had his card out of his wallet. “That’s fine. How much?”
Taylor did a quick calculation. The other cabernet sauvignon on the list was thirty dollars a bottle. Perhaps reserve meant special. If that was the case should she double it? She looked up at the man who was looking down his nose at her. He hadn’t been that polite. What did she care if he bought the wine or not?
“It’s usually ninety dollars a bottle,” she said, “but as I only have eleven I can take ten dollars off the total.”
He didn’t even blink. “Done.”
Damn, Taylor thought, I should have asked for more. She hoped she was doing the right thing as she processed his credit card. Without Peter to help her she just had to make it up.
“I’ll put these in the car,” the guy said to Mr Cheng.
There was a clatter behind her and Peter burst into the room. His face was sweaty and he was puffing slightly as if he’d been running. His shirt was streaked with red.
“Welcome back,” Taylor said with a smile. “Your guests have been waiting a while.”
“Guests?”
Between the Vines is available in eBook and paperback from all good retailers.
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Read more about Tricia and her books on MEET TRICIA STRINGER
Leave a comment for Tricia and you’re in the draw to WIN a signed paperback copy of Between the Vines.
GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED
and the winner is: Anne-Marie McCarthy!
Tricia says thank you to the many readers who left a comment - you’re the best!
Congratulations Tricia on your release of ” Between the Vines” I cant wait to get my hands on this book 🙂
Best Wishes
Great to hear from you Selena and good luck!
I’d love to read this book. It looks very intriguing! Love, passion, deceit… It looks like the perfect combination for a book!!
Hi Angela, lots happening in this one. Hope you get a copy.
Fingers crossed!
I’m looking forward to reading this.
And I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Tricia, tasting wines at various wineries in all areas of Australia is what I love to do! With the Yarra Valley on my doorstep I don’t have to travel far either for a weekend of tasting. Looking forward to reading your book.
Hi Faye, I love wine tasting too. Have been to lots of wine regions but not the Yarra Valley yet. It’s on my list!
Oh, I’m already worried for Taylor. The scene reminds me of that Black Books episode …
Never fear Jennifer. 🙂
congratulations 🙂 looking forward to reading it…my daughters name is Taylor
Hi Maria, gorgeous name. It seemed perfect for my main character. You’ll hvae to let em know if there are any similarities. 🙂
Cheers! I will toast to you tonight with a little vino!!!!
Thanks Jenn!
Very excited to hear of your new release. Can’t wait! 🙂
Thanks Ann-marie. The release of a new book is certainly an exciting time for the author as well.
CONGRATULATIONS Anne-Marie - you won! Tricia will be in touch soon. And thanks to everyone for supporting Australian Rural Romance authors by leaving so many wonderful comments 🙂
Your books are amazing. I love every single one. I am reminded that when things get hard there is always a light at the end of the tunnel (even if they are fiction). Never stop writing.
Hi Amanda, what a lovely message. So glad my books are enjoyable for you. I don’t plan to stop writing any time soon. 🙂
Congratulations Tricia. ‘Between The Vines’ sounds intriguing. I can’t wait to hear the real price of the red. Was it maybe a Grange Hermitage?
Hi Dee, Was a lot of fun to write that scene. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Congratulations on the release of Between the Vines. I can’t wait to read the story. It sounds like a story I won’t be able to put down.
Hi Melissa, great to hear from you and hope you’ll enjoy Between the Vines. 🙂
I do enjoy a good drop. It’s been ages since I visited the SA wine areas. BETWEEN THE VINES sounds like my kind of read.
Hi Mary, I had to enjoy quite a few good drops. All in the name of research of course!! Hope it will inspire you to visit Coonawarra.
Yeah ! Another from you. Have loved your others cant wait to read this one
Who wouldn’t want to own this book. A sophisticated delight as far as I can tell from the teaser. I don’t drink but you could just get me started with wine.
Maybe a little sip while you’re reading Margaret. 🙂
Happy release day Tricia love the sound of this one and the excerpt is great 🙂
Have Fun
Helen
Lovely to hear from you Helen. Glad you like the sound of it. Always a big decision wondering which excerpt to include. Cheers.
Have read all your other books and am excited about reading this one. Congratulations on the release.
Hi Aileen. So glad you’re enjoying my books and thanks for the congrats. Good luck!
Looking forward to reading between the vines. Congratulations
Thanks Bronwyn. 🙂
Cannot wait to get my little eyes and fingers on this book… housework is overrated anyway right??
Housework is definitely overrated, Michelle. Give me a book to write or read any day!
Congratulations on your release day Tricia. This one sounds great with a little bit of everything thrown in. I think I’ll learn a thing or two about wine as I’m reading it as well. Cheers!
Hi Aileen, I learnt lots writing it so hope readers will enjoy a little glimpse behind the scenes. Good luck!
Thank you Tricia for transporting me into that winery. I could almost taste those citrusy, zingy finishes. And shock horror, what has she done, selling that reserve???? I travel through Penola regularly, and can imagine that’s where you may have researched for your book. I hope I too can meet a girl like Taylor at a tasting! Dreaming of that red…. Congrats on the release. I’m hooked already. Jay.
You will recognise the area Jay. A beautiful part of the country. Thanks for leaving a message. Cheers.
I;m sure your tasting was only for research purposes………..would love a change to win and read your new book thank you Tricia………xoxox
Hi Kim, research, research , research…it’s a tough life being a writer but I do it for you. 🙂 Good luck.
Congratulations on writing your novel and letting us all read it! Thanks for giving us some great Aussie based stories x
Thanks Vicki. Aussie stories are my favourite kind to read and write. Best of luck.
Congratulations Tricia on the new book. Women, wine and words - what an awesome combination 🍷😊
Thank you, Janine. You’re so right - a fantastic combination..
Your new book sounds terrific Tricia! You were on my favourite author’s list after the first one I read, only recently finding out there were some before that. Love your focus on South Australia since I live in the country between Clare Valley and Barossa wine regions. So far all my Australian authors have offered different stories - I’m amazed at the range of topics covered in them. A big thank you and keep writing.
Hi Anne, Sounds like you’ve got the ideal spot, nestled between two premier wine regions. Glad you are enjoying my books and yes we have a great bunch of fellow Australian authors so there’s always a new book to read. Good luck.
Hi! Tricia, Congratulations! on your new release. The cover is fantastic .I’m really thrilled that we readers can travel through Australia through your and all other Australian Authors books. Rural romance and vineyards and wine, awesome combination. Best wishes
Hi Jessy. Thanks for your comment. I love the cover too and so glad you enjoy Australian stories like I do. Cheers!
Congrats Tricia! The excerpt was really catching…I was a little bit tense (in the best possible way!!) sitting reading this….can’t wait to read the rest! Riverboat Point is one of my go-to reads….it’s fantastic….so I’m looking forward to this book!
Wine, vineyards, romance. Sounds like bliss to me. Gorgeous cover again. Wishing you very best wishes for your new release, Tricia.
Thank you Noelle and glad you like the cover. Harlequin always seem to come up with a good one.
love Tricia’s books - also got my mum & best friend hooked they are all waiting to borrow this new one - the question is do i let my mum read it before me???
Thanks for sharing the love! Enjoy!
What a delightful ‘taster”!! I’m fuelled with curiosity now!! Congratulations Tricia- it looks like you’ve had an exciting time launching this delight!!-with a glass or two of wine enriched the travels!