LICENSE TO THRILL

Rosenberg offers a fictionalized take on the life of Lily Bollinger, a real-life champagne magnate who took her family’s business to new heights.

Lily Bollinger was 42 years old in 1941 when her husband of 20 years, Jacques Bollinger, head of the family’s champagne business, died. It was left to her to take over management of the prestigious winery. The novel opens in 1967, with Lily about to make a major announcement about a bold new addition to the Bollinger portfolio: the “Bollinger R.D.,” a daring blend of tradition and creative innovation. But first, she must endure an interview with Cyril Ray, the newly appointed and officious wine critic from The Observer, a man who becomes her major irritant over the following years. (“Trying to explain the brilliance of ‘recently disgorged’ to Cyril Ray feels akin to attempting to teach a cat to waltz.”) For Lily, the past two and a half decades have been defined by grief, determination, courage, and rebellion in the face of the Nazi onslaught and various court battles. It has also been a time filled with the excitement and elegance of spectacular promotional events that included such glamorous figures as race car drivers and a couple of very special movie stars. As she begins to look ahead toward her future retirement, she has one more unique vintage planned—but it will remain a family secret until her 75th birthday celebration, still seven years away. Rosenberg’s novel toggles back and forth through time, beginning with Jacques’ death and proceeding to Lily’s ultimate success. The prose is lively, replete with delightful repartee and a smattering of French phrases. For those whose acquaintance with champagne is limited to the occasional celebratory indulgence, the novel will be an eye-opening cornucopia of complex details—perhaps a bit too many for the casual reader. Still, Rosenberg’s Lily is a vibrant, potent mix of grit and glitz, with her love of the land and her amusing fondness for all things James Bond. A secret multidecade romance adds extra dash to her character.

Fun, intriguing, and packed with historical tidbits.