The Vintner’s Luck

Eighteen-year-old Sobran Jodeau is introduced as a disillusioned and intoxicated young man, overwhelmed by unhappy love and despair. He is found on the slopes of his family's vineyard, contemplating his life's direction. During this introspective moment, he encounters what he initially perceives as a statue.

Jodeau discovers the angel Xas, described as a beautiful young man with white wings and snow-scented skin. Believing Xas to be his guardian angel, Jodeau feels a profound connection and hopes for future blessings, including a promised toast at his marriage.

Xas visits Jodeau annually at the same place, each time during a different stage of the wine-making process. Their relationship deepens as they discuss life, spirituality, and the nature of the afterlife, with each chapter marking a year and a winemaking milestone.

In 1809, Jodeau marries Céleste against his parents' opposition. They have a daughter, and Jodeau's life begins to prosper as he inherits and manages the family vineyards. Meanwhile, his relationship with Xas continues to be a central influence.

Jodeau enlists to serve in the French army and travels to Moscow with his friend Baptiste Kalmann during the Napoleonic Wars. His experiences during the war are marked by hardship and loss, influencing his perspective on life and faith.

After his father's death, Jodeau inherits the family vineyards and becomes successful, securing his economic position. His relationship with Xas remains a recurring presence, offering spiritual guidance amid his worldly pursuits.

Jodeau develops a romantic relationship with Aurora de Valday, a widowed niece of a local nobleman. This love interest creates inner conflict, especially as Jodeau maintains a bond with Xas, the fallen angel.

Jodeau learns that Xas is a fallen angel, which causes him internal strife and emotional turmoil. Despite this, he continues his complex relationship with Xas, who remains an influential, mysterious figure in his life.

During a visit, Xas sustains injuries inflicted by Lucifer, highlighting the ongoing spiritual conflict and the tenuous balance between divine and fallen states. Xas is then 'given' to Jodeau, emphasizing the deepening of their bond.

The last recorded meeting occurs in 1863, during the chapter titled 'Vinifie,' symbolizing the transformation of wine, paralleling Jodeau’s life and relationship with Xas reaching a culmination. Their connection persists through time and change.

The story concludes with an epilogue set in 1997, narrated from the perspective of Xas, now immortal. It reflects on the enduring nature of their relationship and the timeless aspects of existence and spirituality.