[Soaring Reputation]
Elowen, who had projected absolute confidence to Brian before stepping into the venue, smiled as she looked at her daughter, who was dressed especially beautifully today.
"You aren't even nervous anymore, are you?"
Her daughter, clad in a black dress, shrugged. A small brooch engraved with the winery's logo shimmered quietly against her collarbone.
"I've been judged by celebrity judges on Wine Masters, Mother. What is there to be nervous about?"
Despite her words, Elena’s eyes darted around incessantly whenever Hollywood’s top stars appeared. Still, the clear change was that she maintained her position with a heavy, composed demeanor, showing no outward shift in expression.
To Elowen, it seemed remarkable that her daughter, despite her young age, didn't get excited and rush toward the celebrities, especially since she was representing the winery. This attitude was even more necessary today, as they had to face an unexpectedly powerful enemy.
"I met Brian from Redwood earlier."
Elena’s expression stiffened immediately.
"Really? About the fact that they have one more main wine...?"
"That's right. He said it's called Sylphide."
No matter how much one tries to ignore it, there is hardly a winery that doesn't know Redwood received two Double Golds last year. Aschelon and Sylphide. These were the wines that provided the basis for people to chatter about the birth of another outstanding winery in Napa Valley.
"Hmph!"
She scoffed. Perhaps if this had been before she appeared on Wine Masters, she would have felt quite intimidated, but things were different now.
"Most of the people here probably haven't even heard the names Aschelon or Sylphide, right?"
"That is true."
Wine is a beverage with so many varieties on the market that unless someone is a true wine enthusiast, it is difficult to know which wines are good or which ones suit their personal taste.
Therefore, even if a wine had just received a Double Gold and was considered "hot" in the wine world, it was only natural that those who didn't usually enjoy wine wouldn't recognize its value.
"To these people, I am the celebrity."
She puffed out her chest and squared her shoulders, and Elowen felt proud of her daughter. This was all thanks to the image she had built by appearing on Wine Masters.
As she appeared on the show, the wines that had been sitting in storage were sold off all at once, instantly solving their accumulated debt. That wasn't all. Since she had become a recognizable face through the show, she frequently received calls from television programs and invitations to parties with celebrities and massive corporations.
One TV show had changed her life. That was why she could now stand confidently before Brian of Redwood.
"Yes, yes... of course. Oh! It's starting."
A pin light illuminated a section of the room. Following the light, George Clooney’s tuxedo, as he walked past the carpet toward the stage, emitted a subtle sheen under the glow.
George Clooney, wearing a smile, took the microphone. His first words were accompanied by his signature grin.
"Everyone, tonight is a night where we relearn the word 'human.' And frankly speaking, it is also the best-dressed night I have ever known."
Laughter and applause erupted from the audience. In the front row, Brad Pitt sat with his arms crossed, smiling, while Angelina Jolie was in the middle of a conversation with someone, glass in hand.
George continued.
"These excellent wines we are drinking tonight—the passionate Revival Cabernet from Napa Valley and the beautiful Pinot Noir, Sylphide—are themselves symbols of labor, passion, and cooperation. The protagonists of this evening, the staff and crew who have supported the film industry, are the same. Without their fingertips, our films, our stages, and this very night would not exist."
In the back, Sting was tuning his guitar, and the scent of the half-filled wine in everyone's glasses slowly filled the air.
"Now, I would like to introduce the person who will give today's first speech. The heart of California, a legend of action movies, and the most muscular governor I know... Arnold Schwarzenegger!"
Cheers erupted from the audience. As the light turned to the right side of the stage, Arnold smiled and waved.
He walked to the center of the stage, wearing a perfectly tailored white shirt and black tuxedo. Standing before the microphone, he delivered his first words in his characteristic thick German accent.
"Thank you, George... thanks to you, I sound like the Terminator of the political scene."
The audience burst into laughter. He stopped laughing for a moment and raised his glass. Inside the glass, the ruby-colored Sylphide was swaying slightly.
"Everyone, we stand together in the city of cinema for the people who turn dreams into reality. The hands behind the camera, the shadows behind the set, all those people holding the lights—their names are the true stars of this night."
Applause broke out. He continued in a slightly more serious tone.
"This industry is built on human sweat. Just like the wine we are drinking. Just as we pick grapes by hand, wait, and age them, movies are made the same way. Without patience and passion, neither can exist."
A moment later, he raised his wine glass high.
Flashes went off again.
"So, let us dedicate this glass to them, to all of our staff. To the people behind the lights. Cheers!"
Glasses clinked all at once, the clear sound of crystal ringing through the venue. George Clooney stepped back to the microphone with a smile.
"Good, Governor. Now, Terminator, please return to your seat. Tonight, we'll be back."
Another round of laughter and applause followed. Then, the event began in earnest with music from the guest performer, Sting.
At the front table, George Clooney, who served as the opening host, sat with the lovely couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and the quintessential Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio was also in attendance.
Given that these were such stars, Elena, who had gained popularity from Wine Masters, approached with a trembling face to pour wine into their glasses and said,
"Silveroak Winery's Revival Cabernet 2004 is sponsoring today's event. I hope it suits your palate."
Since it was a charity event, all the wine supplied here was provided free of charge by the wineries. However, it was well worth it for the promotional effect gained through exposure in various magazines and broadcasts.
George Clooney, who recognized her, skillfully took the lead in the conversation.
"Oh, Elena. I saw you on Wine Masters. It was a shame you didn't make it a little higher. I was rooting for you, Elena."
"Oh my, thank you."
"Can you explain the Revival Cabernet 2004?"
It was a question from someone who seemed to have drunk a lot of wine.
"As you might have seen on the TV show, our Silveroak grew while enduring the great pain of a wildfire. Perhaps that is why our Revival Cabernet 2004 has the firmest voice fruit can offer, with toasted notes like burnt soot, a skeleton of dark plums and black currants, and oak spice. Shall we call Revival a Cabernet that holds the memory of fire? It wasn't burned; it was tempered."
He nodded as if familiar with the concept, buried his nose in the glass, and wore a satisfied expression.
"The aroma is incredible. And yet, it's not too heavy."
"You have described the exact point we were aiming for."
Elena changed the glasses and wiped the bottle necks. Her movements were light, and she felt that everything would go well at today's event.
At this moment, DiCaprio, who had been sipping his wine, asked,
"Is this organic, by any chance?"
She flinched for a moment and gave an awkward smile. Of all things, organic was related to the most fatal incident for Silveroak.
Leonardo DiCaprio must have asked in that sense because he was very interested in environmental movements and climate change campaigns, but the question happened to strike her most painful spot.
"That is..."
"Ah, I understand."
Thinking he had asked an awkward question, Leo waved his hand as if to tell her not to worry.
At that moment, someone approached abruptly. Christopher was not the type to just stand by and watch such an important seat, where top stars were gathered, go to waste.
"Greetings. I would like to introduce one more wine to this table today. It is the wine that the muscular governor over there is holding like a prized possession."
Everyone turned their heads to look toward where Arnold Schwarzenegger was. A warm breeze, like a spring wind, was blowing from his face as he laughed heartily and drank his wine.
To the top stars who turned their heads back, Christopher proudly introduced the young Asian man standing behind him.
"This is Brian Choi of Redwood Winery, the best rookie winery in Napa Valley. He created two wines that received Double Golds at the awards ceremony that determines the best wines. To explain it easily, you can think of it as having two works nominated for Oscars in the same year."
The top stars, who had initially looked at him as if he were just a salesman, soon filled their expressions with surprise.
"Oh, really? In that case, I'm curious."
George Clooney, perhaps because he liked wine, was the first to extend a new glass. I, who had no great interest in celebrities even before my regression, was the same now. So, with a calm expression, I familiarly opened the Sylphide and poured it into his glass.
The red liquid of Sylphide poured slowly into the glass. The wine, catching the light, was more transparent than ruby, and the scent of cherries and wild strawberries brushed by the wind slowly filled the space.
"Could I hear an explanation about the wine?"
As expected, at George's question, I answered with a faint smile.
"It is a wine made from Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. It is the best Pinot Noir region in the United States. In the Russian River Valley, thick fog always settles at dawn. That fog delays the sunlight, firming the grape skins and allowing the aroma to ripen slowly. It can be seen as forming the optimal conditions for Pinot Noir."
As people nodded, I felt a very slight twitch in Elena's smiling face next to me. She must have been forcing herself to manage her expression, but I didn't pay much attention to it.
George Clooney smiled and brought the glass to the tip of his nose.
"Certainly... it’s a completely different feeling from the previous wine, isn't it? Do you have any further explanation?"
"Pinot Noir is a wine that is easy for even wine beginners to enjoy lightly. If I explain in advance how you might feel, I think it might actually become harder to enjoy the wine. I think it is enough to drink it comfortably and enjoy the feeling in its entirety."
"Oh, I see."
At my words, the stars, including George, drank the wine one sip at a time, and magazine reporters in the distance pressed their camera shutters, capturing the scene. I felt so awkward that the Sylphide in my hand was likely being photographed too, but I tried my best to endure it.
"Wow... to think it feels like this..."
George, who had experienced a lot of wine, exclaimed and looked at the wine again with a dramatic expression, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie smiled satisfactorily, as if they liked it.
But here, Leo asked again.
"Uh... I don't know if it's rude, but is this made organically?"
At the glance that brushed past Elena for a moment, I could infer that such questions had been exchanged earlier. Feeling sorry for Elena inwardly, I said,
"We applied for organic certification two years ago and are under the management of the NOP (National Organic Program) within the USDA. If there are no issues until then, we will receive organic certification."
Leo smiled brightly at my answer.
"That's perfect. Have you always been interested in organic farming?"
"Of course. It's not that I think you shouldn't use chemicals at all, but I believe that nature-friendly farming methods are ultimately beneficial to humans."
"That completely aligns with my thoughts. I thought grape farmers didn't do organic."
While saying that, he glanced at Elena next to me, then turned his gaze back to me and said,
"I don't usually know much about wine, but the wine I drank today is very good. The name is also cool, Sylphide. If I have the chance, I will try to find and drink it often. Oh, by any chance, can I still get the wine now? Other than the donated wine provided here."
Before I could even turn my head to Christopher, the answer had already come.
"Of course. But I would also like to let you know that there exists a Sylphide of a quality one level higher than the one you just drank."
"Is that so?"
George immediately showed interest.
"A limited edition Sylphide, containing only the best barrels and signed by the winemaker, is scheduled to go up for auction. It might be a bit more expensive than the existing Sylphide, but..."
"I must get it immediately."
"Where is that auction?"
George and Brad Pitt also showed interest. As everyone focused only on the story of Sylphide, Elena had no choice but to stand there blankly, as if she were being ostracized.
Elena, whose face was turning red even though she hadn't been drinking, couldn't bear the indifference toward her and quietly slipped away to another table.
And then, a casual voice heard from behind.
"Personally, it was much better than the first one."
Leo's compliment toward Brian pierced her heart deeply.