Vintage 1954

“I’m looking for somewhere else, but a somewhere not far from here.” – Jean-Jacques Sempé, Quelques mystiques

In France, the year 1954 was known for two things: more than one thousand UFO sightings were reported across the country, and the wine produced by the Saint-Antoine vineyard was of an exceptional quality, which would never be reproduced. Eight-hundred bottles were created and immediately consumed, or so it was believed. We know of two which slipped through the cracks. One was saved and later enjoyed in 1978 by Pierre Chauveau who, coincidentally, was one of those who experienced a sighting in those very vineyards in 1954, and, incidentally, disappeared the morning after drinking that bottle. It is with the second bottle of alien infused wine where this story begins.

2017 finds Bob Brown in Paris on a once-in-a-lifetime trip which was meant to be shared with his, now, terminally ill wife. Upon arriving at his Airbnb, he is invited to share a bottle of wine and pleasant conversation with the landlord, Hubert Larnaudie, and residents, Magalie and Julien. They awake to find themselves in 1950’s Paris and must work out exactly what happened, and how to get back to their own time. Laurain’s Vintage 1954 is warm and witty and the cameos surprise us like bubbles in prosecco on a warm day. This book will have you booking your flights and looking for Audrey and Salvador for yourself!