Episode #323 – Romancing the Vine – Harlequin Gets Into the Wine Business

Of course romance and wine go together, but did you know that Harlequin, one of the biggest names in romance, is putting out a line of wine? It’s called Vintages by Harlequin, by parent company Harper Collins Publishers, and on this show David talks with their consultant Deborah Brenner, Founder and President of the Women of the Vine Alliance, and author of the book, Women of the Vine.

Deborah Brenner - Author and Founder of Women of the Vine Alliance — Deborah Brenner – Author and Founder of Women of the Vine Alliance

The publisher is partnering with Vintage Wine Estates in Santa Rosa, CA to create Vintages by Harlequin, three wines now available for $14.95 each on AmazonWIne.com. The winemaker is multi-award-winning Nancy Walker and the line is being marketed with the tagline, “Every bottle is crafted for a happy ending.” The three varietals are named Pardon My Body, Wild at Heart, and Substitute for Love, and feature vintage Harlequin titles and pulp-fiction art in their packaging. David and Deborah discuss the importance of women’s accomplishments in the wine industry, and the importance of women wine consumers, and how the tie between the strong women producers in the wine industry and the strong and bold Harlequin women heroines is a perfect fit.

Sara Schneider, Wine Editor, Sunset Magazine

Then on Sipping with Sara, David & Sara talk Bordeaux varietals, and discuss the unsung varietals Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, their histories and who is making the best of these wines today. If you haven’t tried these as single varietals, maybe it’s time you know what you’re missing![haiku url=”https://grapeencounters.com/media/ep323.mp3″ player=1761]

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