The Lost Vintage

A Novel

De: Ann Mah

Narrado por: Saskia Maarleveld

“If you enjoyed my Sarah’s Key and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, then this wonderful book by Ann Mah is for you.” -- Tatiana de Rosnay

Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II.

To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last chance. Suddenly finding herself without a job and with the test a few months away, she travels to Burgundy to spend the fall at the vineyard estate that has belonged to her family for generations. There she can bolster her shaky knowledge of Burgundian vintages and reconnect with her cousin Nico and his wife, Heather, who now oversee day-to-day management of the grapes. The one person Kate hopes to avoid is Jean-Luc, a talented young winemaker and her first love.

At the vineyard house, Kate is eager to help her cousin clean out the enormous basement that is filled with generations of discarded and forgotten belongings. Deep inside the cellar, behind a large armoire, she discovers a hidden room containing a cot, some Resistance pamphlets, and an enormous cache of valuable wine. Piqued by the secret space, Kate begins to dig into her family’s history—a search that takes her back to the dark days of World War II and introduces her to a relative she never knew existed, a great–half aunt who was a teenager during the Nazi occupation.

As she learns more about her family, the line between resistance and collaboration blurs, driving Kate to find the answers to two crucial questions: Who, exactly, did her family aid during the difficult years of the war? And what happened to six valuable bottles of wine that seem to be missing from the cellar’s collection?

Great mystery unfolded

The mystery of past and present keeps you wanting more. I couldn't stop listening. Great story line, very believable characters. And every night I wanted wine!! a plus!

I want to start it all over again

The way this was written, read by the narrator- it was absolutely, captivatingly wonderful! Couldn’t get enough and I’m so sad it’s over.

History blended with romance

A great lesson of historical facts that we should never forget along with the blend of romance past times and current times we must never forget

Sublime!

What a beautifully captivating and heart felt story! I didn’t want the book to end! It is rare to find a book that draws you in to the words and characters with such engaging intensity. Having French family but growing up in the US, I wholeheartedly could relate to the main character’s feelings and thoughts about her French heritage. The twist of history gave the book an added depth of culture, courage, and loyalty.

Excellent

A very good story that kept me fully engaged. And the narration was particularly excellent.

Delightful family mystery!

This was a fascinating tale of family drama and mystery told in a beautiful setting!

Wau! So nice!

Loved it! Very nice story and a good happy end! Burgundy is on my visit list!

Loved it!

Delightful pandemic reading - I love history, food & wine and France, so this novel hit all of the highlights. It's helpful if you understand very basic French, but I'm sure it's enjoyable even if you don't.

Great book and stellar narration

I finished this in 3 days. I couldnt put it down. Great writing, easy read, feel good novel. I love Saskia Maarlevald as a narrator and actively seek out books that she narrates. Stellar job once again.

Fascinating story

Great novel. Difficult to stop listening at times! Very informative and well read. Loved it!