This book got off to an awfully slow start for my liking. Up until about 40%, the back and forth between the two main characters, Josie Sanchez head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards, and intern and the owner's niece, Mackenzie (Mac) Layton, seemed to be about Mac's winemaking inexperience. The inexperience dialogue and how it negatively impacted Josie really seemed to drag down the beginning of the story. After we somewhat got past that issue, then the book seemed to pick up in pace and interest level.

Things I liked about the book including the descriptions of the Oregon countryside, the details of the winemaking process, and the tension and resolve of both women that melted when they grew closer. 3.5 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books!
My very first ARC and I don’t think it could’ve been a more perfect choice.
I don’t know that this book will be for everyone but as a person who majored in chemistry and took a wine tasting class in college I really enjoyed this! Some parts were very technical which I absolutely LOVED but I know it won’t be everyone’s favorite thing to read. I fell in love with the wine making process after taking a tour of a winery before my sisters wedding. I had no idea how much science was involved so getting to read about it in a romance was the perfect storm for me. Yes I geeked out reading about titrations. I enjoyed that the main characters were more established in their lives and careers being 30 and 40 years old. That was a new dynamic for me to read and I really enjoyed it. I think this is a good example of a cozy romance because it has a lot going on but it’s set in the most gorgeous world during the fall and it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I could read about the winemaking process all day long but the relationships in this book were actually really well done I think. I just want to be in the little winemaking friend group in Oregon.
I highly recommend this book for a cozy fall read when it comes out!

This is a book with two love stories. The first love story is between the two main characters, Josie the renowned head winemaker and her new intern Mackenzie. In an added twist not only is Mackenzie off limits because she is an intern but she is also the owner's niece. This was so well written and evolved throughout the book. It was low angst, low drama and had some fun laughs. I truly enjoyed this book, if there is one somewhat low for me it's that I hoped for a little of Uncle Hank's back story. It's not a deal breaker on if you should read this book or not, I guess I am a curious soul.

Ok now let's get to the other love story that ties this book together so beautifully. There is a passion and may I dare say reverence that the author expresses when describing the wine making process. For me it added to the story and the motives for Josie.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Good opening chapters. 30% in and there is a bit of thawing. However I’m concerned there is not now much tension, which could make the plot a bit saggy. The barrier to the mains being together is often referenced and although they can’t be together romantically they are having to spend a lot of times together but I’m not gripped.
There are sections I really liked, scenes I loved. Other bits were okay, a bit like garnish on a plate. Noticed, adds to the whole effect but padding the plate out, making it look pretty, but you only eat it if you are still hungry.
I thought the morning after scene was perfect. I think because I wasn’t totally gripped by the romance, the first love scene wasn’t “moving”. No such issues the next day!
A personal dislike here, one of the sex scenes used a particular term for a toy too often. Maybe it’s just because the word is unusual in the scenes I read, but it pulled me out. In fact I was so pulled out the scene, I did a word search on the last 25 books I read and discovered I read a lot about “cocktails”, and there is a significant amount of “head cocking” going on, but no other book used that term.
I mentioned early on about the lack of tension. Well there is no lack of tension towards the end. The end of the shower scene perhaps overly foreshadowed the plot but from then on in, my teeth were lightly clenched. (Always a good sign I'm buying in to the writing.)
Overall somethings I loved and others not so much, but the book finished more strongly for me.

Josie Sanchez is the head winemaker at Cadieux winery, one of the best in the country. She's been working here for 15 years, and the owner is finally giving her an opportunity to showcase her skills and create her own label, if her pinot noir is good enough. Unfortunately, she only gets one intern instead of two this season, and the owner has already offered the position to his niece Mackenzie (Mac), who has almost no experience in winemaking.

When Josie first picks Mac up from the airport, she's already sour on the the deal, and Mac's inexperience does nothing but rub her the wrong way. Mac is very capable of learning - she's a force to be reckoned with, but Josie is *hot* and makes Mac nervous. I love how this dynamic plays out on the page.

This slow simmering relationship is so delicious to watch. I am a sucker for workplace sapphic romances, and being set in the beautiful vineyards of Oregon had me sold. The detail of the wine process may be a little more than necessary for some readers, but I really enjoyed reading about the process.

The attraction between Josie and Mac was luscious from the beginning, and it was fun to watch them bottle it up and try to fight it. It's never a good idea to get involved with your boss, but how long can they really resist each other?

If you enjoy slow burn sapphic workplace romances, grab a glass of wine and settle in for a wonderful love story. ❤️

[Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Some books just feel written for you, and this - lesbians in the wine industry with a storyline that feels this side of realistic rather than hallmark movie - absolutely falls in that category. It's almost as fast-paced as an actual harvest and crush is, with the chemistry between Josie and Mac simmering from the very start and continuing to build until they all but crash together. Throughout it all, the backdrop of the Willamette Valley wine industry is completely in focus. It's very clear that Reichardt worked in the wine industry for years - details or traditions pepper the pages, but with enough distinction to have been taken from personal experience in some cases. Personally I loved all of the details, having grown up around wine and winemaking, and will be fun for anyone who's touched that world or just been interested in how wine gets made, but might be a bit overwhelming if you're just here for the romance. Thankfully, both Mac and Josie are grounded in both themselves and the plot that they more than make up for it. Their growth under each others' influence and the small ways that they push each other to improve and become more confident in themselves is sweet to watch.

Also, kudos for trying to explain why chardonnay has gone so wrong the past few decades.