Eric Sanchez on "Killer Vintage" and West Texas Wine

Debut Novel: Killer Vintage

• ✍️ Eric Sanchez, a wine enthusiast and executive sales rep, has released his debut novel, "Killer Vintage: A West Texas Wine Thriller."
• 🗓️ The book has a nationwide release tomorrow and blends his knowledge of winemaking with a thrilling storyline.

Book Plot and Themes

• 🍷 The novel follows a former lifeguard who becomes a wine tour guide and uncovers suspicious activities at a winery.
• 🕵️ Simultaneously, the DEA investigates the disappearance of an agent, hinting at mafia involvement.
• 📺 The story is also a '90s throwback, incorporating pop culture references from the era.

West Texas Wine Production

• 🍇 West Texas is a surprisingly fertile region for premium wines due to its high altitude (3600 feet) and significant diurnal temperature swings.
• 🌡️ The rapid temperature changes between hot days and cool nights help grapes develop complex flavors.
• 💧 Despite receiving only about 19 inches of water annually, grapes thrive, offering farmers an alternative to traditional crops like cotton.

Grape Varietals for Texas Climate

• ☀️ Traditional cold-climate grapes like Pinot Noir and Beaujolais do not perform well in Texas's hot climate (Type 4, Type 5).
• 🍷 Grape varietals suited for hot climates, such as Tempranillo, Shiraz, and Mourvèdre (common in Spain and Southern France), thrive in Texas.
• 🏆 Texas Tempranillo, in particular, is highlighted as a successful varietal.

Wine Tasting and Book Insights

• 🥂 A tasting session featured two Pinot Noirs and one Merlot, with the wines sourced from Oregon and California, not West Texas.
• 📚 Sanchez hopes readers gain knowledge about the wine industry and the production side, similar to Rex Pickett's "Sideways" but with a focus on the winemaking process itself.
• 📍 Book signings are scheduled at Fogon in Plano, Texas.