Chianti Classico (9 page)

Because you’re from Montriano, Sister, you must know that the wines in both areas are only subtly different,” said Michel, leading the nun between the rows of vines. “The grapes we have here are Sangiovese.” He reached down to pluck a bunch from one of the vines. Flipping a grape into his mouth, he closed his eyes as if in prayer. “These are fine grapes and just about ready. Please have one or two. Don’t throw away the rest. I’m sure Dani and Susanna would love some too.”

“They’re very nice,” the nun said after tasting one.

“The Sangiovese grapes are extremely sensitive to our weather and our soil. The aromas seem to be different, depending on what we put into our soil. The sandier the soil the more flowery the wine smells. Limestone creates a fruity fragrance with a hint of tobacco. But prevalent in all the Chianti Classico wines is the scent of violets and irises. Every Chianti Classico wine must contain at least eighty percent Sangiovese grapes.”

“And the taste?”

“The flavor’s dry and savory with a level of tannin that makes the taste soft and velvety over time. The color must be ruby red.

“What makes up the other twenty percent?” asked Sister Angela, trying to keep up with his long stride.

“First of all, the grapes, whether Sangiovese or not, must be grown in the Chianti Classico designated area in this part of Tuscany. There are more rules—lots of them. That’s why I can’t produce everything by myself. My partner takes on making sure many of the other rules are documented for the
Denominatzione di origine controllata
. The wine in Montriano is grown with separate rules, though I’m not aware what they are. Here I use other native grapes from the area, though I don’t always grow them. The Canaiolo grapes or the Colorino are sometimes used. There are other varieties that I don’t reveal to anyone. Let’s go into the winery and check out what happens after our fruit’s gathered in a few weeks.”

“I saw the crusher when I was waiting for Sister Daniela one morning.”

“The first step is de-stemming. Then we crush the grapes. The juice, together with the skins, is put into these containers for fermentation. The temperature must stay below thirty degrees Centigrade for about two weeks. The fermentation will push the skins to the top of the liquid and form a mass or cap. We then break the cap and push it downward to squeeze out the flavor. Mind you, the chemical results must be checked at least twice a day. Then the wine’s pressed and put in barrels to ferment again. During this time, bacteria transform the aggressive malic acid into a softer lactic acid. The wine’s then racked to clear it of the sediment. It must age for at least two years in the oak casks and then another year in the bottle to get a DOCG label, assuring the buyer that it meets the taste and grape standards of Chianti Classico.”

“Oh my, I
am
getting a taste of the results, aren’t I?”

“Of course. Over here in the corner are my casks and bottles of Chianti Riserva. To be a reserve, the wine must age at least two years longer than a standard Chianti. This is the type of wine that should be oxygenated before service. I have some at the house that was opened before dinner. Perhaps Susanna and Dani can join us. I believe Susanna has some aged cheese and crackers to go with it.”

The two crossed the field and entered the house. Sister Daniela came running down the stairs when she heard the nun. “Sister Natalia contacted me,” she said as soon as she caught her breath.

“Did they find the child?” asked Sister Angela.

“No. Perhaps my news isn’t as important as I thought. Let’s eat first. My mouth’s watering. I haven’t tasted the
riserva
before. I guess family doesn’t count.”

“That’s not true,” said Michel. “I just thought we might need a bigger group to drink the whole bottle.”

Thy sat down and quickly emptied it.

Sister Angela finished off the cheese and turned to face Sister Daniela. “Now, what have you learned?”

“I heard they found hair at the scene but don’t know how old it is. It’ll take at least a week to get it tested.”

“Where? It could have been anyone’s.”

“In the closet where the hangers hooked to the pole. If the nun didn’t enter that chamber, she might still have known about it and tried to get inside.” Sister Daniela bit her lip.

“Or someone wanted a coat and inadvertently got the hanger caught in her hair.”

“I want to hope it belongs to the old nun and that helps us find her.”

“But a week’s too long,” said Sister Angela.

“If she didn’t stay in the basement room, that must mean I left the basement unlocked, doesn’t it?”

“Either way, I suppose the old nun had to get in through the basement to get to the room. But your possible slipup is still jumping to a conclusion,” said Sister Angela. “The nun could’ve possessed a key or had one made. Someone on the inside might have let her in. There’s the door of the old nurse’s room that doesn’t have a key at all. The old nun could’ve entered through an open window. Did anyone check the windows?”

“But how did the kidnapper get in or out without leaving prints?”

“Gloves.”

“Did the children notice the nun wearing gloves?”

“The gloves could’ve been clear plastic or skin tone. Please don’t blame yourself until we collect additional information about the perpetrator, Sister. I’d offer you more wine, but I’m afraid we already drank it.

Viviana smoothed her skirt and spun around in front of the mirror to see how she looked from behind. Her aunts scrambled to inform her mother that Viviana had no intention of taking care of family business first.

The young woman received the call early the morning following the job offer. She hadn’t even had time to think of what to say to her mother.

“Hello, Viviana. What happened? Lucilla called me last night and told me you were serious with a young man, making out with him on the front porch for all the neighbors to see.”

“Lucilla never saw me do anything, Mamma. The man who walked me home yesterday was my new boss. He offered me a job. I was just thinking how I can manage to get something to wear for it.”

“So you took the job?”

“No. I plan to take it. Aunt Lucilla and Aunt Clarissa expect me to wait on Nonna all day while they discuss her jewelry without me. Poor Nonna can do better than having me keep her company. If you hoped I’d secure some of the jewelry…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll come and do that myself. I have to get vacation from my job first. It may take a few weeks.”

“I don’t have a few weeks. I need money for a dress and shoes for my new job at a local winery. It’s a big opportunity for me.”

“I understand, Vivi. I’m sending you some money. I hope Nonna can hang on until I get there.”

Viviana twirled once more in front of the mirror. The four-inch heels were the perfect touch. Giulio would love them. Her cheeks grew hot. Would she be able to work beside him without feeling the need to touch him?

Her shoes packed into a bag, Viviana hiked up the road, turning left at the ornately-carved sign at the entrance to Amarena Balda. For the first time, she noticed a couple of trucks with workers carefully unloading supplies outside the building with the tasting room at one end. The doors to the office and winery were open, and Viviana walked in.

She was acquainted with no one. A man at the desk looked up. “Ah, you must be Viviana. My little brother has talked about you incessantly since I returned. My name’s Ermanno. Giulio mentioned you might be perfect for the tasting room.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know where the tasting room is. Are you still setting it up in the little office at the front of this building?”

“Yes, but that’s only temporary. Excuse me if I seem scattered. I always return to this—all the paperwork’s been strewn over the desk. I have to make sure the invoices have been paid.”

Viviana tried to peek over the edge of the counter, but Ermanno managed to cover the papers with his arm. “I have worked in several offices. If you need help…”

“Thank you, but I think I can handle this. No one’s supposed to organize my invoices because that’s my job. Once one of my brother’s fellow vintners tried to pay some of the suppliers and actually paid them more than once. We had a difficult time getting the monies back. That’s why only one of us is in charge here. Ah, Giulio has returned.”

Propped against the desk, Viviana was busily trying to change her shoes when he walked in.

“Viviana, look at you,” he said. “Let me help you with those shoes. I love the dress, and your hair,” he said, putting his nose close to her head and inhaling. “Come, let’s see what we can do with the office.”

Giulio felt his brothers stare. “Ermanno and I are looking at plans to expand the tasting room. You can be in on that too, if you wish.”

“We’ll see how this goes first,” said Ermanno, pushing a stack of papers into a folder. I suppose, Giulio, you’ll want us to offer tours next. Who do you have lined up to conduct the tours?”

Giulio glanced back at him, a tiny smile on his lips. Then he helped Viviana take the first few steps on her new shoes. “There you go. The entrance is right over here.”

Giulio closed the door behind them and laughed. “My brother’s very private. I hope he didn’t say anything to offend you.”

“No, he was quiet polite.” She looked around the small room. “You haven’t done anything to it.”

“I thought you wanted to tell me how it should look.”

“Someone has to take some of the junk out. I think we should paint the walls—maybe have them textured. You can build a counter here in the middle. We wouldn’t want the customer to get the idea he can pour himself more. That way, I’ll stay on this side with the alcohol. I’d need a sink or something to clean the wine glasses.”

“So we have to do a lot.”

“I’d have dressed more appropriately had you mentioned I needed to do everything myself.”

He leaned toward her.

“Why don’t I go home and change into other clothes,” she continued. “I can return after lunch and help move the garbage out of here.”

“I can get someone to do that.”

“What about the other ideas? Do you want me to pick out shades of paint for the walls?”

“Why don’t you come back tomorrow in your work clothes? I’ll have this place cleared and the counter built. We can go from there.”

“I could stay and help with the paperwork if you’d like.”

Giulio hesitated. “Ermanno’s here. He doesn’t like others fooling with the invoices.”

“Even just filing them? He looked like he could use the help.”

“I think you should let me prepare your office for you.”

“It would be nice to meet my mother when she comes. I’ll be back tomorrow morning then.”

Mara Mioni drove up the short drive to her mother’s house.

Viviana ran out to meet her.

“I thought you had a job.”

“I do,” said Viviana. “The tasting room wasn’t ready so I’ll go back tomorrow.” She took her mother’s bag from her. “You told me it would take a few weeks before you could get off.”

“I thought you needed me so I just took the time off. How’s Mamma? Is she doing well?”

“Not really. Nonna stays in bed. I open the shades for her every morning. If I don’t get a chance, they stay shut all day. I also make sure she takes her morning pills. I didn’t today and noticed she hadn’t yet received them.”

“I’ll have to talk to my sisters about that. Did you and your aunts get any business done? That’s why I sent you here.”

“No. They only want me to clean and do the chores. If they have meetings, they don’t tell me.”

Mara sighed. “Oh dear. I guess I’ll have to stay awhile. It’s a good thing I had some vacation saved up.” She carried a small bag up to the house, letting her daughter struggle with the bigger trunk.

Mara stayed with her mother for nearly an hour before reappearing in the sitting room. “Hi Clarissa, Lucilla. Where’s Viviana?”

“She had chores to do. She wanted to make sure your room was ready.”

“I’ll go help her,” said Mara. “What time’s dinner?”

“When Viviana decides to make it. We usually eat at eight, but since she has a job now…”

“Since she has a job, I recommend one of you takes over a few of hers. Clarissa, you have a car. You can shop for food. Lucilla, you can cook. I know you can. You’re a good cook. I think I’ll take Viviana into town and make sure she has enough outfits for her new job. We can get groceries tonight. Lucilla, please make us a list.”

“We can have a meeting tonight, Mara, if you’re interested.”

“I’ll be there,” she said, starting up the stairs.

“So you have one dress and a pair of shoes,” said Mara, sifting through the items crammed onto the rack. Don’t you think you’ll need a few more things?”

“Yes, Mamma. I would love more than one dress. Giulio, Signor de Capua, wants to make sure I look like a lady. I need to wear high heels.”

“I saw your dress. It was hanging on your door. I understand that a sundress might be nice in the hot weather, but don’t you want something more businesslike? And those shoes—what about something a bit more practical? Are you leading tours?”

“No. They’re hiring someone else to do that.”

“I always find that it’s wise to volunteer to help out when there aren’t others to do jobs that might benefit the company. What if they don’t get someone in time? It would make you look good if you do the first tour.”

“I volunteered to help with the filing, but they said no.”

“This is a nice skirt. It makes you look smart. You’d appear like a real business woman in this and a blouse.”

“We have no air conditioner there. I would be too hot.”

“You can wear the skirt with a lighter blouse. Look at these colors. Aren’t they beautiful?”

“Maybe the skirt’s okay,” she said. “We’ll have to take it up though. People don’t want an old lady serving them wine.”

“What about these sandals. Will they let you wear sandals?”

“These over here are nice. The wedge is attractive, don’t you think?”

“I’m not sure you need to be attractive, Viviana.”

“It’s a sales job, Mamma. Of course I have to appear attractive.”

The next day, Viviana appeared at the winery in work clothes.

“We got someone to apply plaster to the walls. It should be dry now,” said Giulio. “Ermanno insisted on getting the paint. I think he got a deal on it. It’ll do, won’t it?”

Viviana smiled. “Yes, it’ll do. I’ll paint while you build the counter.”

“I bought a cabinet. I’ll assemble the pieces and then top it with marble. I also found some stools. The counter will be high enough so the tall stools will work. You might want to find some material for the cushions, but that can wait.”

“What’s that crate?” she asked, pointing to a box in the corner.”