Page 63 of Que Será, Syrah

—a response that’s giving serious “Don’t Call Me” country music vibes, even after he adds a hopeful?—

“How about tomorrow?”

“Or not,” I mutter discontentedly. Curious, I glance at the time. I’m surprised to realize it’s already after eleven. Which is late, I guess, when you start work at six.

And even I’ll admit that that’s a strange thing to envy someone for. Still, I’m managing it. Because I’m trying to create a meaningful role for myself here, too. A reason why I’d need to roll out of bed every day at o-dark-thirty. And I’m being hamstrung at every turn. Most recently by him.

So maybe I am still feeling a little resentful. And maybe he suspects as much. Perhaps getting together tonight really isn’t a good idea.

“Yeah, maybe. Sorry to bother you.”

“Not a bother,”

—he texts back. Which is sweet. And which does put a teeny smile on my face. Still, I’m heading upstairs to sleep alone, in my childhood bedroom. And that’s so not where I want to be right now.

Chapter 14

Allegra

I get up the next morning determined to turn things around—for myself, and for Caparelli. Having grown up on a winery that was already established, already successful, I think I may have underestimated the level of difficulty in starting over from somewhere this close to scratch. Maybe Geno has been right all along. Maybe we can’t do this on our own. But my sisters aren’t ready to give up yet, and I refuse to be the weak link, the screw-up who causes us to fail.

Which means I need to double my efforts. One way or another, I need to find some way to keep our brand alive and our name relevant until there’s wine to sell.

Since we already have something of a green light in terms of food trucks, that seems like a logical place to start. But I immediately run into a problem. The first few trucks I contact want to know how much business we do here, and what kind of crowd they can expect. When they learn we’re not even open yet? They lose interest quick.

Which, honestly, I should have expected. Apparently, the only businesses in Napa that aren’t expected to turn a profit are small wineries. Who knew?

Bottom line, I need people—potential customers—in order to attract the food trucks. But, with nothing else to sell, I need food trucks if I want to attract the people. No people, no food trucks. No food trucks, no people. It’s a vicious circle taking me nowhere. I need to find a better way.

I drive into town, hoping that’ll give me a better sense of what brings people to Oak Creek Canyon—other than wine, of course. There must be something we can offer that they’re not already getting elsewhere.

It’s a gorgeous fall day, sunny and warm. The air is fresh, the leaves just starting to turn. It’s perfect. Just being here, being home, lifts my spirits. All the same, my first stop is the Rise ‘n’ Wine for an iced caramel macchiato—just to further boost my morale.

My plan is to start at the tourism board. I’ve heard they offer winery tours, so they were on my list of places to visit anyway, once we’re operational. But that also seems like a logical place to ask questions and find information on what tourists want to do here.

I’m in sight of their building, when I’m distracted by the business directly across the street, by the row of mint-green cruiser bikes lined up in front—shining brightly and enticingly in the sun—and the signs in the windows offering TOURS in big, block letters that might as well be neon, because that’s when inspiration strikes.

As I recently told Clay, I worked as a tour guide in several cities throughout Europe. If leading tour groups was the best gig ever, then bike tours were the best of the best! Easier on my feet than walking tours. And easier on my lungs, as well, since you’re generally not expected to talk as much.

I can barely wait for a break in the traffic to rush across the street and through the front door of Wheeling in the Vines. Once there, I shamelessly trade on my family’s name and reputation—and my own background as a tour guide and former cellar rat—to talk the owner into letting me lead a series of tour-and-tasting events, which will take in several of the wineries along Silverado Trail. Including (obviously) Caparelli.

Eventually, tour-goers will be able to taste our wines, too, of course. But for now, I figure we can provide a place to stop, to give everyone a chance to rest and eat lunch while I regale them with stories of what it was like to grow up on a winery in Oak Creek Canyon. With vineyard dirt under my nails, my clothes and hands perpetually stained purple, and a sommelier’s encyclopedic knowledge of wine bred into my soul.

And yes! Of course I’m overselling it! Fake it ’til you make it is totally gonna be my motto from here on out. And maybe that kind of blatant manipulation didn’t work out too well for Russell Crowe (I mean Max) in that movie the other night, but Napa Girl is the one who ended up with the winery, and that’s the energy I intend to channel.

But getting back to the Tour and Pour, as I’m calling my new venture, if our guests haven’t already purchased a boxed lunch elsewhere, they’ll soon have the opportunity to order from the food trucks that I know will be clamoring for a spot close to our newly refurbished patio.

Which…okay, we don’t actually have a patio yet. So that needs to be my next project.

With that in mind, I head to neighboring Vallejo, to my favorite consignment shop, where I’m able to score four, lightly used picnic tables for barely more than the cost of the paint I’ll also need to buy in order to spruce them up.

* * *

Back at the winery, I once again requisition a few of the interns. Hey, it’s been a coupla weeks since the last time. And, seriously, Bee and Jake need to learn to share.

I set my crew to work weeding and washing and otherwise prepping the neglected brick terrace just outside the tasting room. It’s convenient to the parking lot, has easy access to the rest room (okay, it’s behind the bar, so not ideal) and it also boasts a decent view of the vines. So, what if it’s a little crowded with four picnic tables? I figure that will just encourage people to socialize more.

I’m standing back, admiring my work, when my sisters appear. “There you are!” Rosa calls. “We’ve been looking for you.”

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