Wine Runs Deep

An irresistible wine country crime caper. Beckett Jensen has lived honorably for the last fifteen years, but the mistakes of his youth are about to overturn his idyllic life as the owner of a successful winery in Paso Robles. Unruly former acquaintances arrive under the guise of a social visit. Drunken hijinks and a hilarious wine tour ensue, but things turn nasty as the unwelcome visitors’ true intentions are revealed. They are plotting a daring crime and using guilt, blackmail, and physical threats to force Beckett to assist them. If Beckett participates he will almost certainly end up in prison. But if he refuses, his life, his winery, and everyone he loves will be destroyed. The cat and mouse games escalate and Beckett plans a sting of his own. Caught in a terrible dilemma, Beckett is forced to reckon with the burdens of his past and tap into the darkness within, hoping it is powerful enough to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Only one thing is certain, before the story ends, both wine and blood will spill. “Wine Runs Deep is a heist novel with the wine, the vineyard, and the terroir as the stars.” – Forward Clarion Reviews. “If you enjoy the world of wine, a good thriller and a little romance, you will love Wine Runs Deep.” – Sam Hauck, Wine Educator – MyVanCity.ca

Fifteen years after running from his troubled childhood in the American Midwest, Beckett Jensen has reinvented himself as the owner of a successful upscale winery in Paso Robles, California. But his serenity is overturned when his past comes back to haunt him in the form of an unruly group of former schoolmates, who arrive unannounced. What begins under the guise of a social visit with drunken hijinks and a hilarious wine tour turns nasty as the unwelcome visitors’ true intentions are revealed. Through a combination of guilt, blackmail, and physical threats, they force Beckett to assist them in plotting a daring crime. If he participates, it’s almost guaranteed they’ll all be caught and go to prison. But if he refuses, his new life, his winery, and everyone he loves will be destroyed. Caught in a terrible dilemma, Beckett is forced to reckon with the burdens of his past and tap into the darkness within, hoping it is powerful enough to conquer the darkness without.

For over thirty years James Halliday AM has been Australia's most respected wine critic, and his Halliday Wine Companion is recognised as the industry benchmark for Australian wine. A best-selling annual, the Halliday Wine Companion 2024 has been completely revised to bring readers the latest wine ratings, regions, best varietals, winery reviews and a curated selection of the best wines in Australia. The Halliday Tasting Team, now led by Campbell Mattinson in the role of chief editor, share their extensive knowledge of wine through detailed tasting notes with points, price, value, and advice on best-by drinking. ​ The book provides information about wineries and winemakers, including opening times, contact details and advice on family and dog-friendly vineyards. It’s the essential guide to the country’s best drops, or an ideal gift for any wine lover.

Making the dream a reality… For many people, owning and running a winery is a dream job. According to Wine Business Monthly, the number of wineries in the U.S. has jumped 26% in less than three years. To carry out this dream, one must understand that wine making involves both science and art. Starting a winery is just like starting any other business and requires planning and a deep understanding of the industry. In The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Starting and Running a Winery, readers will learn: •How to put together a business plan •Different varieties of grapes and wines •How to lay out a floor plan and what equipment is needed •How to promote wines

At the age of 47, when he a successful publishing executive and living with his wife and four children in an affluent Chicago suburb, John Shafer made the surprise announcement that he had purchased a vineyard in the Napa Valley. In 1973, he moved his family to California and, with no knowledge of winemaking, began the journey that would lead him, thirty years later, to own and operate what distinguished wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. called “one of the world’s greatest wineries.” This book, narrated by Shafer’s son Doug, is a personal account of how his father turned his midlife dream into a remarkable success story. Set against the backdrop of Napa Valley’s transformation from a rural backwater in the 1970s through its emergence today as one of the top wine regions in the world, the book begins with the winery’s shaky start and takes the reader through the father and son’s ongoing battles against killer bugs, cellar disasters, local politics, changing consumer tastes, and the volatility of nature itself. Doug Shafer tells the story of his own education, as well as Shafer Vineyards’ innovative efforts to be environmentally sustainable, its role in spearheading the designation of a Stags Leap American Viticultural Area, and how the wine industry has changed in the contemporary era of custom-crushing and hobbyist winery investors.