Review: The Champagne War by Fiona McIntosh

 


Fiona McIntosh has done it again! The Champagne War is the story of Sophie, a newlywed fifth-generation champagne maker with grand plans for the direction of her champagne house. When her husband joins the French army and leaves for battle in 1914, they are sure he will be home in a couple of months. Before long Jerome is missing, presumed dead from a poison gas attack.

Horrified by the use of poison gas in the war, charismatic British chemist Charles Nash joins the war effort and after a particularly brutal battle finds himself in the underground hospital set up by Sophie in Reims. Dealing with a missing husband, a potentially dangerous bargain with a duplicitous acquaintance and trying to keep her vineyard viable is trouble enough for Sophie, and the surprising attraction she feels upon Charlie’s arrival complicates things even more.

From the start I loved this book! Fiona McIntosh writes so beautifully but also with such humour, I found myself grinning wildly at many of the things the characters said and did.

 

This was everything I look for in a historical fiction – a stirring romance, well-researched settings, beautiful writing (and the added bonus of being about one of my great loves – wine!). Fiona McIntosh always has female characters who break the mould, are full of poise and strong in their knowledge of who they are. Long time fans will also enjoy the nods to her other books - perfume notes and chemistry, tea preferences and dress designs among them. 

 

As always, I was dreaming of a man who speaks as eloquently as the men in her books. Charlie had a swoon-worthy way with words and Jerome was so charming - I was completely torn between which of the two characters I loved the most.

 

The level of detail in the book displays the depth of research has gone into it. The descriptions of what grapes bring to a wine, the delicate way they are picked, the passion poured into the wine from the local community and all the complexities of winemaking were rich and enthralling. I love the way the grapes and the wines were spoken of as beings with personality traits and temperaments of their own.

 

One of my favourite parts of this novel was reading about the real women of Champagne, particularly Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (AKA Veuve Clicquot/Widow Clicquot). I had to know more about her after being introduced to her story in this book, and I am completely fascinated by how she cultivated a thriving champagne house, but never recovered emotionally, after the death of her husband. She was instrumental in the implementation of the technique of ‘riddling’, an important step in champagne making that was discussed in-depth in The Champagne War.

If you’re interested in the art of wine-making, the complexities to producing a wine and the in-depth detailing of wine tasting you will love this. If you enjoy impossible romance stories, you’ll love this. If you’re a fan historical fiction you will love this!

 

Thank you to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of this book. The Champagne War is out now.

 

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