Parra - Seven Deadly Zins

Seven Deadly Zins

A CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY MYSTERY

Nancy J. Parra

This one is for my family and friends, who put up with the time it takes to write a book.

Acknowledgments

I always say it takes a village to make a book, and that becomes more and more true with each book I write. Thanks to the Crooked Lane folks for the beautiful covers, fine editing, and patience with the writer. Thanks to my agent, Paige Wheeler, for finding me wonderful opportunities. Special thanks goes out to my family and friends for understanding that to get a book ready, I might have to take time away.

Thanks to my readers who are my dearest friends. Together we build stories and enjoy the characters in my head.

Chapter 1

When are you going to put my winery on your tour list? my friend Tim Slade asked. Tim owned a winery south of my Aunt Jemmas winery in Sonoma County, California. He was a tall guy with a slender build and blond hair. He often stopped by my aunts tasting room to hang out and discuss the wine business.

I didnt know you wanted me to do that, I replied. I thought you didnt like people.

He shrugged. Ive changed my mind. Whens your next tour?

Ive got a group tomorrow, I said. Im taking them up to the sculpture garden at the Sonoma County Museum. Then we have a tour of the Charles Schultz Museum, with stops for wine tasting on the trip up and back.

So squeeze my winery in, he said.

Your place is south of here, I stated.

And your point is? He leaned against the tasting rooms walnut bar, awaiting my answer. I had poured him one of Aunt Jemmas zinfandel wines, which hed swirled before taking a delicate sniff and tasting it.

The point is, I would have to go out of the way to bring them by your place. I can plan a tour for next week that goes south. I had started my Off the Beaten Path wine country tours to highlight the wonderful hidden gems in Sonoma County. It was perfect for anyone who loved wine tasting, arts, or outdoor activities. My business had picked up quite a bit lately, and I was enjoying finding new places to bring my customers.

Next week. He pressed his hand to his chest as if he would have a heart attack. Youre killing me.

I usually plan a tour for a specific group, I said. For instance, the group Im taking out tomorrow are all cartoon fans and want to see the Charles Shultz Museum. Its tough to compete with Charlie Brown and his friends.

Are the people who take your tours likely to join wine clubs? he asked. Because I can find someone to dress up as a Peanuts character if thatll bring in people wholl join the wine club.

Wine clubs were the main business for smaller wineries like Aunt Jemmas and Tims. After a tasting of a variety of local flavors, the sommelier would offer the tour group exclusive memberships in the vineyards wine club. Customers would pick monthly wine selections and get free tastings for the year. It encouraged them to come back, buy more, and hopefully bring a friend.

I dont think I can fool them by driving south and showing up at your winery to see you in a Charlie Brown costume, I said. That said, you finished picking grapes this week, right?

Yes, he said. Why?

My Thursday group is filled with enthusiasts interested in the process of making wine. You can show them your vats and your lab where you test the sugar content.

That might work, he said with a thoughtful nod. Would there happen to be any investors in your group? I might be in the market for a sponsorship.

Wait a minute, I said. I thought you were happy as a sole proprietor.

You do know how to make a little money with a winery, dont you? he asked.

Why dont you tell me?

Start with a lot of money, he said and saluted me with his wine glass before taking a sip.

I laughed. Very funny.

Taylor, Ive been looking for you, Aunt Jemma said as she pushed through the doors to the tasting room. She appeared to float over to meher colorful caftan brushed the floor so low, you could barely see her feet.

Aunt Jemma was my mothers sister, and when shed had a heart attack in the spring, shed convinced me to move to Sonoma from San Francisco, to look after her. In reality, she was healthy as a horse and only had a symptom if I talked about how my boss from San Francisco kept calling, trying to get me back to the city and my high-paying job in advertising.

Aunt Jemma was also a bit of a character.

What do you need?

I have a sance scheduled for this evening, and I was wondering if you wouldnt mind joining the group.

Okay, I said with a tilt of my head. Why?

My psychic, Sarah, couldnt make it. You have good energy. I thought you could stand in for her.

If Sarah isnt going to be there, who is leading the sance?

I could, Tim said and shrugged. My girlfriend, Mandy, knows a psychic who taught me a few tricks.

I think you need to stay out of it, young man, Aunt Jemma said. She put her hands on her hips. Youll scare the ladies away with your antics.

Antics? I never He attempted to look affronted, but it didnt work, and I burst out laughing.

Tim is trying to convince me to take one of my tours down to his winery.

Im trying to get some notoriety for the smaller, scrappier vineyards, he said and raised a blonde eyebrow. You should back me on that.

I agree we need better marketing, Aunt Jemma said. She turned to me. You were in marketing, right? Cant you do some kind of social media something to help us out?

I made a face. I was in advertising, and I thought you all were working with the other bigger wineries in the region, to share the wealth.

We are, Aunt Jemma said with a shrug. But Tims winery has some of the oldest zins in the USA. Thats something you could tell your tour groups.

Here, here, Tim said and raised his glass.

Thats the best part of my business, I said. Really, trying to get people to see beyond the commercial wineries and look at the great Northern California art, hikes, parks, and smaller, quirkier wineries.

Quirkier? Tim asked.

Well, Aunt Jemmas place is famous for its previous owner being a witch, and now we offer sances.

Ghost hunting is all the rage, Aunt Jemma chimed in. Oh, I know, we could set things up as a haunted winery. Bring out those new-fangled cameras and recorders, and have a few great investigations.

So thats what the sance is really for? I asked. To draw in spirits so you can get people to pay you to do ghost investigations around the winery?

Aunt Jemmas eyes sparkled. You could use your contacts to get us on television. We could do one of those ghost hunter shows, and then people would be coming out left and right to visit and buy our wine. She placed her hands inside her sleeves. We all know that once they taste it, theyll buy. We simply need a hook to get them into the tasting room.

Heres to a hook, Tim said, lifting his glass again. He swallowed the contents and motioned for more.

Are you driving home? I asked.

Mandys picking me up, he said. She had some kind of thing in town.

What is Mandy up to now? Aunt Jemma asked.

Who knows, Tim said with a shrug. Shes always trying some trendy diet or New Age spiritual guidance. Last week she declared she would only eat non-soy tofu.

Wait, I said, is that a real thing?

Tim shrugged again. All I know is Im not eating it.