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Truth is Stranger than Fiction
Julien Camus
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The Wine Scholar Guild earns mention within the pages of a murder-mystery written by award-winning author J. Michael Orenduff.
Yes, truth is stranger than fiction!
While our Education Director was vacationing in New Mexico last summer, she picked up “The Pot Thief Who Studied Escoffier” at a bookstore in Albuqueque. It was a fabulous read especially since its main character was a Gruet-guzzling treasure seeker with a keen eye for ancient Indian pots…that weren’t his own.
The only thing “wrong” with the book was the constant reference to Gruet sparkling wine from New Mexico as “champagne”.
A friendly email exchange followed…along with a newly released sequel, “The Pot Thief Who Studied D.H.Lawrence”. In Chapter 10, as the main character shares a post-prandial drink with a friend …
Suzannah said,”The restaurant got an email blast today from the Education Director of the Wine Scholar Guild explaining that you shouldn’t refer to Gruet as ‘champagne’.”
“She mentioned me by name?”
“No silly. And she didn’t mention Gruet by name either. She said we shouldn’t call American sparkling wines champagne.”
“Why not?”
“Because true champagne comes from Champagne, France. Everything else is sparkling wine. It has to do with authenticity. You know, truth in advertising.”
“But the Gruet family is from Champagne.”
“But the sparkling wine they make here in New Mexico is not.”
Thank you J. Michael Orenduff for setting the record straight! And for the record, if you haven’t read one of Mike’s murder-mysteries…you are missing out on some authentic good fun.
J. Michael Orenduff is a “Lefty” national award winner for best humorous mystery. He has won two “Eppies” for best eBook mysteries and is winner of the New Mexico Book of the Year Award.