Reading Group Gold discussion

1. The theme of family secrets is prominent in The Winemakers. Have there been any secrets in your family that later came to light? If so, how did this new information affect family members and their relationships?

2. Are parents ever justified in keeping family history from adult children? Ava kept vital information from Caterina under the assumption that she was sparing her daughter the abuse and heartache to which she’d been subjected by Lucan. Do you think she was correct in doing so? How might she have told Caterina about her father and her family history? What would you have done?

3. If Caterina had known about her parents’ difficulties, do you think she would have kept her child a secret from Ava?

4. Fear of social condemnation forced Ava into a disastrous marriage in the 1920s, and yet, Caterina was determined not to succumb to such a marriage. Even in the 1950s—Caterina’s frame of reference—this was still an evolving social topic. What societal forces do you think have changed the way unmarried pregnant women are viewed? Are these views still held in your community? Why or why not?

5. Ava’s heart softens toward Marisa after she meets her granddaughter. Considering her anger toward Caterina, why do you think Ava had such a change of heart?

6. Ava speaks of reinventing her life in America, far from the transgressions of her past, and later, Caterina also considered reinventing herself and her history after moving to Italy. Given modern communication, do you think it’s still possible to recast yourself in a new environment, and to what degree? Do you think this an important skill for personal resilience?

7. As a woman, what impediments did Ava face in owning and running a business? Did the World War II years have an impact on professional and entrepreneurial women in your country or community? Have you faced any similar obstacles in business, and if so, how did you handle these challenges?

8. Do you know of any stories of emigrant experiences among your family or friends? Do you think this experience unifies or divides the generations?

9. If you enjoy wine, did you discover anything new or interesting about wine and its history from this book? What are your favorite wines? Do you have memories related to specific wines? Have you ever visited a vineyard?

10. If Caterina and Santo had been related, how might have this changed the ending? What would you have done?