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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
WINE NOT?
Events of that morning zipped through Hannah’s mind. John complained his egg was runny and his bacon not crisp. By suppertime he’d been shot to death.
The executor read John’s last will and testament. When he finished, his lips spread in a saccharine smile. “He left J.C. Weinberger Winery to you. After you sell it, you’ll be well-set.
“Why would I do that?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
She squared her shoulders. “I’ll run the business.”
Six years later, at the 1889 Worlds Fair in Paris, Hannah Weinberger won a silver medal for her wine—the only California woman to do so.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Of all the things to be gifted, wine is among the best
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I agree Neil. L’chaim.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
You paint a picture of a hard-headed and competent lady! The tradition of women winemakers continues in California; Penelope Gadd-Coster is one such.
Shalom
Penny
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Dear Penny,
Hmmm…could that Penelope Gadd-Coster be related? Thank you re my story. I imagine Hanna had to be hard-headed to make it in what was considered a man’s occupation.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such an enterprising and determined woman. So proud of her.
Wonder who shot her husband.
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Dear Anita,
She was determined, that’s for sure. As to who shot J.C., there don’t seem to be any records.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Love that she decided to prove to them she had the guts and determination to not only take over the business but to make it flourish! Good stuff!
Shalom and lotsa love with cheers!
Dale
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Dear Dale,
There wasn’t a lot of info given but judging from her picture I’d say she was a force with which to reckon. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and lotsa good cheer!
Rochelle
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She definitely had a don’t eff with me face 😉
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🤣
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I hope you appreciate my keeping your blog cuss-free 😉
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Yes. It is a family site after all. 😉
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I have a feeling she ran the business all along and hubby the figurehead. Good for her.
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Dear Tanille,
I suspect you’re right. And she certainly wasn’t going to let the business go. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Seems that Hannah Girl went!
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Indeed she did, Tracy. I’d like to know just what kind of wine won her the medal. 😉 Sweet to see you here in Purpleville. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Good for Hannah. I’m happy she didn’t sell the business and ended up being the only woman to win a silver medal for her wine. Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
From one “mere” woman to another, I applauded Hannah. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A woman of determination. Not a hint of a flinch there. A girl after my own heart. Lovely story, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
History is full of determined women and it’s always fun to unearth one of these examples. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You know she must have been a headstrong woman to make it so successfully in a man’s world in those times. I’m sure that she would have continued were it not for Prohibition. Even at her age. Good historical story. AS USUAL.
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Dear Jan,
Sigh…such a busy week, I’m only now getting around to replying to comments. But then, I’m easily distracted, no? True, Prohibition didn’t do much for Hannah’s business but it didn’t stop it. 😉 Thank you, M’luv.
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I had no knowledge of this incident/history. We always learn from you, Rochelle.
And Hannah was my kind of woman!
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Dear Linda,
If God didn’t want women to succeed, He should never have given them the ability. 😉 I only just learned of her in my Google search for a wine story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I believe with all my heart that God’s will is for all to succeed. Gender doesn’t matter.
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Gifted and strong lady. Great story.
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Thank you, Mason. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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you’re welcome.
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A wonderful tale of courage and success. To know it is based on fact makes it all the more potent.
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Dear Lisa,
I’d still love to know what kind of wine won her the silver medal. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I saw a good documentary about the competition between American wine and the European wines called, “Bottle Shock.” Sounds like that competition has been going on a long time.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Well, she’s certainly got the spirit for it! 🙂
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
With a hearty groan I lift my glass (coffee actually…it’s morning). Thank you. לחיים
שלום
רחל
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Yay! Groan-delivery successful! LOL! 🙂 Cheers!
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Fascinating….as always….and a lesson to be learnt about rolling up sleeves, and passion…
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Dear Ain,
Passion and commitment know no gender, do they? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Wish I could have been there at the wine-tasting! As a judge, of course. 😉 What a remarkable achievement by a woman from where the west was still wild!
Shalom uv’rachah,
Dora
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Dear Dora,
Being a judge might’ve been fun. 😉 Although after a while, it might have been hard to differentiate. On the other hand I think the judges slosh it around in their mouths and spit it out to avoid intoxication. I love finding remarkable women history has, for the most part, passed over. Thank you.
Shalom u’vrachah
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Did she serve burgers with her wine? Or is that just a bad pun?
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Dear Nobbin,
I’m a gluten free person so I usually order my burgers without the pun. (The worse the pun, the better 😉 ) Thanks for stopping by for a whine and a groan.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m not gluten-free, but I am glutton-free.
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Excellent tale. I love your historical nuggets. Thanks for hosting. I finally played today!
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
It’s good to see you back in the FFFold. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, Rochelle,
I so badly wanted her to look at him and ask, “What is obvious?” Of course, after that, 100 words would be pipe dream. Well done.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
Of course we know what he meant by “Isn’t it obvious?” I actually did have her asking the question but it was an expendable line in keeping it to 100 words. Needless to say, if he actually did ask that question, I’m sure she was the kind of person who would tell him, under no uncertain terms what was NOT obvious.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You must admit, wine never seems to go out of fashion.
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Dear James,
Let’s hope it never does. L’chaim!
shalom,
Rochelle
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She didn’t even think about it, she just did it! Well done Hannah – and you of course Rochelle for another interesting story!
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Dear Keith,
I don’t think Hannah was a person you wanted to cross. Now I’m curious about wine from her vineyard. Thank you re my story. Cheers!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What great story! But I fear my protagonist, while equally single-minded, is a little less respectable. Such an inspiring picture.
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Dear Jilly,
I’m thinking Hannah, also taking her husband’s position as head of the bank, was a no-nonsense kind of gal. Thank you re my story and my picture. (which is a very fond recent memory).
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i’d venture to say that for every successful woman there’s a man. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
That saying does work both ways I think. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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History can teach one to expect the unexpected. Greeting Rochelle for the festivities
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Dear Michael,
There are so many sweet lessons in history if we look for them and heed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Life gives you grapes… make vino, eh! Great history lesson here. Strong woman, especially in that day and age. Tornado zone in Kentucky is like… pick-em-up sticks mixed with tootpicks, covered in upturned garbage cans… no other way to describe it. Reminded me soooo much of Xenia 1974. Back home, now… wrenched knee from slipping on some debris. Wish I could still be there cleaning up. Nothing tops finding pictures and special things for those who have lost everything.
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Dear Bear,
Hannah certainly made something special with her grapes, didn’t she? 😉
Sorry about your knee. Nonetheless kudos for putting out the effort to help.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Standing applause for Hannah, and for you for giving us this fascinating piece of history.
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Dear Gabi,
I wish I could’ve found more about Hannah. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Woman Power Rules!
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Huzzah! Thank you, Liz.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for shining a light on Hannah’s achievement, so glad to learn about women’s achievements.
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Dear Francine,
I’m always happy to shine the light on obscure bits of history. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve been reading mystery novels by Jess Montgomery with a main character based on the first woman county sheriff in Ohio — 1925. I stumbled across them; how do you find your bits of history?
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Dear Genia,
Basically I stumble across bits of history. I usually start a thread on Google and see where it leads. With this particular story, my search was short. I started with wine in history and came across women in the wine industry. We’re so fortunate to be living in a time when history is at our fingertips. If only I’d had the internet when I was in school. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I do wonder if my posts to Friday Fictioneers carry a link back to the other posts. I am sorry if my offerings do not carry the link. Mike Humphris. All being well in the new year I will try and improve my computer knowledge. My regards to to and your family this festive season Mike
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Dear Michael,
I honestly haven’t noticed if your posts have a link back. Basically I use the inLinkz to find everyone. And you do link there, so I wouldn’t worry about it. I appreciate your continued participation.
A happy merry holiday to you and your family, my friend across the sea.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A determined woman, very against the grain for the times she lived in.
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Dear Ali,
Hannah put the D in determined, didn’t she? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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amazing story of an amazing person
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Thank you, Arora. Nice to see you back.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the inspiring stories that you tell and the fact that they are based on real people. Hannah was a determined woman in a day when that was even more difficult. Incredible!
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Dear Brenda,
Your affirming comments make me smile. I always hope I’m not boring everyone with yet another historical piece. Hannah was definitely a trailblazer for future generations of women. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heck yeah! You go girl! I love her determination here. What a legend.
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Thank you, Laurie! 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Passion and determination coupled with great buiness acumen made her one of the best in her business. Kudos to her and her tribe, and also to you, dear Rochelle for bringing her story in such nostalgic though fictional manner.
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Dear Neel,
I’d say Hannah knew what she was doing. And history proves this is so. Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I enjoyed the idea of Hannah coolly refusing to be the ‘little woman’, refusing to step down. Guess she must have been a determined woman to succeed. I did wonder who shot her husband and why.
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Dear Francine,
The only thing I could find about who shot J.C. was that it was a “disgruntled employee.” Judging from her photo, I’d say Hannah was one you didn’t argue with. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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