Blog Tour and giveaway - Decanting a Murder by Nadine Nettmann

Nadine Nettmann's debut mystery Decanting a Murder (A Sommelier Mystery) was released on May 8th.

Series: A Sommelier Mystery (Book 1)
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink (May 8, 2016)
Language: English



Synopsis

Katie Stillwell focuses on two things in her life: work and practicing for her Sommelier Certification with her blind tasting group. The exam was supposed to be the hardest part of her week, but that was before a body was found at an exclusive Napa Valley winery party.

When all the evidence points to Katie’s best friend, the outspoken and independent Tessa, Katie drops everything to clear Tessa’s name. Using her deductive wine skills, she tries to track down the real killer. But when repeated attempts are made on her life, Katie discovers that everyone’s secrets must be uncorked―including her own.

This Debut will tickle your taste buds and a murder that will keep you guessing until the very end. The cast of characters and the inviting atmosphere pull you into the story from the very first page. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series.

Story of Wine
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Shelley!

I love wine regions and I’ve traveled around the world to visit them, but when it came time to decide where I would set my debut novel, I decided to stick closer to home and chose California’s Napa Valley.

But before I talk about Napa, I should mention my journey with wine. I’ve always enjoyed wine but it was at a wine and food festival in 2010 when I decided to become dedicated to it.

I was attending a panel at the festival when I stood up to change seats so a couple could sit together. A Master Sommelier saw me stand up and took my hand, in what I thought was to help me get to the next seat. Instead he led me to the front of the room and sat me next to wine makers and Master Sommeliers on the stage. Although I was nervous to be on the panel, it was at that moment that I decided to pursue wine. I wanted to learn as much as I could and the following year, I passed Level 1 of the sommelier exam. Six months later, I became a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers.

When I decided to write Decanting a Murder, I thought it would be fun to have a sommelier use her wine skills to solve a mystery. But then there was the question of location. As I am a California native and a large amount of wine comes from California, I decided to set my book here and chose Napa Valley.

Lined with rows of vineyards, Napa Valley is home to over four hundred wineries. Grapevines in the area receive just the right amount of water and sunshine, and at a specially chosen moment, the grapes are picked, processed, and fermented into that delicious, velvety liquid we know and love as wine.

There’s something so magical about a bottle of wine. The years that it took the vines to mature, the weather as the grapes grew, the gentle picking of each bunch, followed by pressing, and fermentation. All of this takes a lot of time and attention from people who care about every step. And then one day, the wine ends up in a store or restaurant to be sipped, savored, and enjoyed.

This is one of the elements that my character, Katie Stillwell, and I have in common. We appreciate every bottle of wine, knowing all the work that went into it, and the magic that is created.

Just like every book has a story behind it — how the author got the idea, the time it took to create, the people involved in the publication, etc. — every wine does, too. The story of how the wine became to be, from the chosen location of the vineyards to the history of the winery, from the person who started it to everyone involved in picking the grapes and producing the wine. Every time you see a bottle, remember -- there’s always a story.

About The Author

Nadine Nettmann, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, is always on the lookout for great wines and the stories behind them. She has traveled to wine regions around the world including Chile, South Africa, Spain, Germany, and every region in France. When she’s not visiting wine regions or dreaming up new mysteries, her travel articles have appeared in AAA Hawaii, New Mexico Journey, Modern Luxury Hawaii, and Inspirato. Nadine is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in California with her husband.

Author Links

Website: http://nadinenettmann.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NadineNettmann
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NadinesNotes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14416658.Nadine_Nettmann



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