Page 66 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

He went on to mention past winners, the origins of the awards in Europe, and how they had become such an integral part of the international wine community, with buyers andsommeliers from all over the world participating and seeking their choices from the medallists.

The first course came and Belle ate, half listening to the keynote speaker and half trying to see Dante without appearing to stare at him.

The CEO of Wine Australia appeared on-screen and detailed how the long list of medal winners would be divided by grape variety, then sub-categorised by price, under and above thirty dollars Australian. Four levels of achievement would be awarded: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. The final and most prestigious award of Best in Show Platinum would be awarded toward the end of the ceremony, to highlight excellence in winemaking, again divided into subgroups of variety and price. A total of forty-four Best in Show medals were to be awarded.

“Wow. They must have had a heck of a lot of entries this year,” Jack said.

Belle nodded, agreeing. One day she hoped to be asked to help judge in the awards, an accolade she could currently only dream of achieving. The first step in that was to pass the Master Sommelier course, something that only a fraction of the participants did the first time around.

She almost laughed. Her ten-year plan. A plan that might take a heck of a lot longer than the ten years she’d banked on.

Main courses arrived and the tables ate in relative silence as the awards proceeded. Some Highly Commended awards were awarded to local wineries, the crowd vocal in their appreciation and support.

Belle glanced at a very worried Jack, who’d begun to jiggle around in his chair like a child on a sugar high. She placed her hand on his arm.

“Stop stressing. You’ve obviously scored higher than that.”

Jack frowned. “Yeah, or I totally bombed out.”

“Not possible.”

She glanced Dante’s way; a similar worried look was etched across his face. She looked closer. He actually looked sick to the stomach.

She ached to go to him, to comfort him. She knew how much time and effort and research had gone into his two entries. Far more than even Jack’s.

She closed her eyes and sent all the love and supportive vibes she could in his direction, the support she didn’t dare show in public in case he simply didn’t want it.

She opened her eyes to see him staring at her.

Time seemed to slow. She couldn’t pull her gaze from his. She hoped to God above that he couldn’t see the desperate ache inside her through them.

Patrice squealed and Belle jumped, her heart almost jumping from her chest in protest.

“What the …”

Jack’s face beamed back at her. “Holy shit!”

Belle looked at the screen.

Sapphire Sky Mourvèdre—GOLD.

Belle’s mouth fell open. Shock stripped her of all thought. Shaken from her stupor by the swirling cheers from the crowd around them, she threw her arms around her brother and squeezed tight.

“Oh, Jack! Yousodeserve this.”

Jack squeezed back. “I couldn’t have done it without your support, sis. You and Dante. You guys rock.”

Belle scrunched her eyes tight, not wanting to break down and blubber there in public. “You did all the work. This is yours alone, Jack.”

People came from all around to slap him on the back and congratulate him. Belle managed to see Dante looking at their table through all the shifting, standing bodies. He looked as happy as Jack was.

Relief flooded her. She’d been worried he’d be sad. He’d placed so much on getting recognition for their winery on this competition. She hoped with everything in her that he would be recognised for his effort.

“Now awarding Platinum placings. Sapphire Sky—Mourvèdre.”

Belle blinked in shock. Jack gripped her thigh tight enough that it almost hurt.

“Jack? You did it.”

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