Page 67 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

He faced her, tears gathering in his eyes. People crowded them, congratulations coming thick and fast from all around.

The constant surge of people congratulating them finally began to settle as the awards continued through the varieties and price brackets.

Belle looked up at the screen as dessert was placed in front of her.

Sangiovese.

One of Dante’s entries was Sangiovese.

Belle couldn’t swallow the bite of cheesecake she’d taken. She could barely breathe as they moved through the medal list.

“Casellati Estate Sangiovese—GOLD.”

The entire room was silent, then erupted into loud calls and whistles.

Belle sought Dante’s face. She couldn’t see him through the throng of people crowding their table. Happiness threatened to overwhelm her. First, her brother, now Dante? She couldn’t believe it.

She grinned to herself. Of course she could. He was the best winemaker she’d ever seen.

The drone of the award list in the background went on, continuing through the placings, then moving on to the next variety.

Gold. Dante had got gold for his little Sangiovese. His father would be so happy; it was his favourite wine. While not proceeding to a higher placing, she knew it wouldn’t matter to Dante. He’d be beyond ecstatic.

“Naked Wines.”

Belle looked at the screen again and the room fell silent. They all knew Dante had been working on his pet project of a naked variety. Vines his father had brought over from Cividale so long ago had been planted and had thrived against all odds in the Crossing. They’d loved the soil so much that they’d grown thick and large, the original ten vines having been propagated and planted a few years later to amount to the decent-sized patch they now had.

The entire room seemed to hold its breath as the announcer moved through the medal placings.

“Casellati Estate Friulano Naked—GOLD.”

Screams and yells echoed throughout the room, so many that they almost missed the next amazing words.

“Casellati Estate Friulano Naked—PLATINUM.”

Belle screamed along with the rest of them. She couldn’t see. Tears obstructed everything. Her chest heaved. She put her fingers to her lips.

“Casellati Estate Friulano Naked—BEST IN SHOW.”

The room went wild. Belle’s fingers shook so hard she nearly couldn’t do it, but she let out the loudest wolf-whistle she’d ever managed to expel.

*

“Casellati Estate FriulanoNaked—BEST IN SHOW.”

Dante was certain his heart had stopped. Just stopped dead.

No way. Best in Show?

The eruption of the entire room around him seemed surreal. Bodies moved and pressed and touched and he sat still in the centre.

Best in Show.

His whole life had just changed in the few brief moments that it took for the CEO of Wine Australia to announce his fate.

It started with shivers up his spine. Gasping breath.

He needed to move.

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