If the man sitting next to her had been Antoinette’s heart’s desire, it was understandable that she’d succumbed to him. But more and more Nathalie was beginning to feel that he wasn’t Alain’s father, and she didn’t want this evening to end.
Maybe he was reading her thoughts because he said, “Do you mind if we make a detour to Saint Jeannet before I take you back home? My brother asked me to check on a special shipment of red wine my grandfather has been waiting for, and until Etienne gets better I’m trying to help him. It’ll only be ten minutes out of our way.”
The question filled her with exhilaration. This would give her more time to be with him. “Tell me about the shipment of red wine, Dominic. I thought you only produced rosé wine.”
“We produce everything.”
“Even sour wine.”
He smiled. “That too.”
“Will you tell me what you know about the emperor Charlemagne? I hear there’s a story to do with him and red wine.”
Dominic chuckled. “One of those stories is purported to have to do with his fourth or fifth wife. She was a beautiful German princess with many gifts and he adored her. When she died, he never remarried. But getting to the point, being a tall proud man with a prominent white beard, he wanted to look his best for her when they were married. Yet there was one problem.”
Everything the brilliant man sitting next to her said or did enamored her. “What was that?”
“According to history, he was a big meat eater and red wine drinker. But she didn’t like the red stains on his beard.”
Nathalie studied the red stains on her own fingers and could well understand.
“Word has it that she demanded he drink only white wine. From then on only white grapes were commanded to be planted on a certain section of the hill. That’s when Corton-Charlemagne in Burgundy was born and still continues.”
“I had no idea. How fascinating.”
“Except that it’s partly myth. Other sources say it was Charlemagne’s mother who didn’t like her royal son looking terrible with those dreadful red stains.”
She laughed. “That sounds more realistic.”
“Are you ready for this? Some sources say he did
n’t have a beard. According to scholars, it was customary in the Middle Ages for artists to put facial hair on the rulers, symbolic of their virility.”
“Oh, dear—don’t tell me that and ruin this picture I have of Charlemagne with his barbe fleurie.”
It was Dominic’s turn to laugh that deep laugh she loved. “Too much authentic research destroys most of our beliefs.”
“You’re right. It’s much more fun to enjoy our own version of life. Since I’m with an expert and we’re talking about red wine, please explain about red grapes having many secrets. I cherish the memory of you taking me on a tour of the winery.”
His hand reached over to clasp hers, sending waves of longing through her body. Both their emotions were spilling over. “To keep it simple, all grape juice is white. Only the red skins contain a dark pigment. If the juice is separated from the skins shortly after being crushed, it remains white.”
“I see.”
“If the juice is left in contact with the red skins during fermentation, it becomes that delightful pink color. Left longer, it becomes red wine.”
“I’m embarrassed to know so little about it.”
He turned to her. “That’s because you’re not a wine drinker. Those who are show surprise to learn that eighty-eight percent of the wine produced in Provence is rosé. It has a delicious fruity flavor. Some people refer to it as summer water.”
Another chuckle came out of her.
“Other drinkers prefer white wine, which is sweeter. Red wine is heavier. But as I explained, our winery produces everything.”
During their conversation, she hadn’t realized they’d reached the town of Saint Jeannet. He pulled up to a big warehouse before letting her go. He flicked his gaze to her. “I’ll only be a minute.”
The whole time they’d been talking, she realized she hadn’t asked him any personal questions. But after hearing he’d been away from Vence for so many years, she was beginning to think he couldn’t have been Antoinette’s lover.
It was a lovely night to be out, and being with him was so stimulating to her, there weren’t enough hours with him to satisfy everything she was desperate to know. Her whole body tingled from his touch.