Rose's Vintage (44 page)

Putting a heavy kettle on the range to boil, she rummaged around in the storeroom for tea. Spooning some leaves into one of the restaurant's new denim-blue Japanese teapots, she glanced through the open kitchen into the space before her. The old house had been completely redesigned, with the ground floor now a single open space. Tables for two, four and eight surrounded an enormous timber central table that was laden with heavy vases of greenery and fragrant winter blooms.

Tea brewed, she stepped outside. Dew trembled on the canes and the mist had begun to clear. It was going to be a beautiful day. Beautiful but cold. Not that it would be a problem at the restaurant – she'd insisted on the best under-floor heating on offer, as well as a cosy open fire at one end of the large dining room. After her experience at the barn, she'd refused to skimp on the heating.

As she clasped her hands around the mug, she thought about all the work that had gone into realising her dream of a small country restaurant and provedore. She'd travelled the length and breadth of the valley, cajoling the best ingredients from local producers: bespoke cheeses from the Shingle Dairy, olive oil from a farm on the other side of Eumeralla, lamb and beef from nearby farms, and eggs from her own brood of chickens, each one named after her favourite cooks and chefs – Alice, Julia, Ina, Elizabeth and Kylie. She'd overseen the renovations, enlisting Astrid's help to create a warm, welcoming feel. Astrid had also designed the signage: one hung proudly from the eaves and another stood at the turn-off from the Shingle Road. Trevelyn's Pantry. There had been no question about the name.

The opening was tonight – Vera and Violet were the guests of honour (they were now settled happily in a small stone cottage just off the main street of Eumeralla), and family and friends, including Dan, Bob, Charlie and Thommo, Astrid and Bevan and Angie, Mrs B, Deano, Ben and Jake would be coming – as well as half the valley, it seemed. And, of course, Mark. Mark who made every day a joy and a delight. Mark, her champion and her comfort, her lover and her friend.

Draining the dregs of her tea, Rose returned to the restaurant.

She had work to do.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I
owe an enormous debt of thanks to a number of people, without whom
Rose's Vintage
would never have seen the light of day.

First and absolutely foremost is my agent, Margaret Connolly, who saw a diamond in the rough and who, thanks to her sage counsel, continual encouragement and belief in me as a writer, has made everything possible.

To my sister Becky, who was the first to read the initial pages (which ended up on the cutting-room floor, gulp): your encouragement, endless plot powwows and no-bullshit advice kept it real and kept me going.

To four of my early readers, Mercedes, Di, Jane C. and Jane R. – you were more enthusiastic about Rose and the Shingle Valley than I dared hope. To Sanchia and her eagle eyes, for reading it at its final stage. And yes, there will be more Shingle Valley shenanigans, I promise!

To the original Pirates – you know who you are – for your enthusiasm, irreverence, inspiration and belly laughs.

To Max Allen, for his fascinating and inspiring survey of Australian biodynamic and organic wineries,
The Future Makers: Australian Wines for the 21st Century
and to the good people at Short Sheep winery, for educating me in the finer points of keeping Babydoll sheep among other useful things. Any mistakes in relation to winemaking practices are entirely my own.

To Ali Watts, for her encouraging words and stellar advice. To my publisher, Jeanne Ryckmans (who tells the best
true
stories!), for completely understanding my vision for the book, and my calm and kind editor, Kirstie Innes-Will – the book is so much better for your hard work and spot-on suggestions.

Kayte Nunn
is a freelance book, magazine and web editor and the former editor of
Gourmet Traveller WINE
magazine. She writes on travel, health, wellbeing, parenting and lifestyle topics, and has been short-listed for local and international short-story awards. She is a mother to two girls. This is her first novel.