Vintage

Starred review from March 23, 2009
Lies, lust and libation fuel this early summer beach read, published in the U.K. in 2008 to much acclaim. After a drunken wager, three wine critics set off to produce award-winning vintages. Madeline Arsenault takes on the task of rehabilitating her family’s sluggish and debt-ridden vineyard. Party girl Kelly Eldon would rather sell the winery inherited from a father she never knew, but to get her cut, she has to spend five years as a hands-on owner. Supermodel Christina Morgan hopes her vineyard, a present from her ex-husband, will save her struggling career. Meanwhile, ruthless businessman Mathieu Randon takes steps to keep them all from competing with his own vintages. Darling’s sly wit veils numerous jabs at celebrities and popular culture, and her pitch-perfect description and characterization draw readers into the complex world of vintage wine without overwhelming terminology.