The French Winemaker’s Daughter
In 1942 at a small Jewish family winery in France, seven-year-old Martine hides from the Nazis. A note pinned to her gives an aunt’s address in Paris, and Martine holds a bottle of wine that Papa claims is her birthright. But after Papa is taken away, Martine hears more Nazis in the wine cellar and races for her life, dropping the precious bottle. A neighbor puts her on the train, but when Martine arrives in Paris, her aunt cannot be found. Martine roams the streets, not knowing who to trust. Some say she died at the hands of the Nazis.
In 1990 at Hôtel Drouot in Paris, an American female airline pilot, Charlotte, attends an auction with her French boyfriend Henri. He’s the highest bidder on a box of wine from the German occupation of WWII. Henri celebrates with Charlotte in a night of romance then jilts her, leaving her one inferior-looking bottle from the box. When she cleans it, Charlotte’s curiosity is piqued, sending her searching French wineries to find the truth of its history.
Loretta Ellsworth convincingly captures the terrifying experiences of war from a child’s perspective, the kindness of strangers, loyalty of family, and descriptions of France from the past. As a female pilot, I enjoyed Charlotte’s point of view and found her character well-researched.
This unputdownable novel immersed me in the beauty of resilience, honor, and the lovely French culture. Part mystery, part romance, this haunting story connects two timelines and two women from drastically different backgrounds through one bottle of wine. A captivating story of serendipity. Very much recommended.
