Beneath the Vineyard Above

At the bequest of his mother, Elyse de La Plauset Conner, tall and handsome Los Angeles executive Georges Conner returns to heritage Tildenwell Winery in the Napa Valley to manage the winery after his father's death. Little did he know the winery is failing financially and secretly schemes to have it sold. Winemaker, Johanne Brunner, becomes an obstacle and so does a young investigative reporter named Pete Marlow who discovers an aged letter claiming a sacred Indian burial site exists underneath Tildenwell's prized vineyard. This novel leads the reader inside Tildenwell Winery with its array of characters and pits them in conflict against members of the Wappo tribe of Northern California who were the original predecessors of the land. This is a fun and interesting read.

Investment executive, Georges Conner, did not want to leave Los Angeles and his plush beach city life, but upon the death of his father and requests of his mother he returns to the Napa Valley to manage heritage Tildenwell Winery. little did he know that the famed winery was failing financially. His secret scheme to bring about a quick merger with a large eastern conglomerate is put on hold when the appraiser, Jim Cody, discovers an old letter written by the deceased historian of the local Wappo Indian tribe claiming a sacred burial site existed beneath Tildenwell's prized vineyard. The letter leads to the death of Jim Cody at the bottom of the stairway leading to cellar #7, and a conflict with Tildenwell's renowned winemaker, Johanne Brunner, who becomes part of Georges lies and deception in order to make the merger succeed so that Georges could happily return to Los Angeles. Through a series of events, the same letter and maps are found by the Wappo tribal historian's young daughter (Bright feather) who shares it with a newspaper columnist named Pete Marlow. Together, they develop a unique bond through their hobby of passenger pigeons and bring the issue of the sacred gravesites to a head with Tildenwell's owner and results in a surprising compromise. This novel incorporates some actual history of the past conflict between modern day winery and vineyard owners, and the original indigenous Indian tribes that lived, and gathered, and hunted on the land before. This is a fun and interesting read that keeps the reader wondering what is coming next.

William Wise has been a wine industry accountant for over forty years. During this time, he has witnessed the growth and proliferation of wineries throughout Northern and Central California. "Beneath the Vineyard Above," his first novel, shows his passion for writing about the Napa Valley and its wealth of history. His writing experience began at Napa College in the 1980's in creative classes and soon became a favorite endeavor. There is more forthcoming.