The Curse of Bacchus is a work of historical and contemporary fiction that explores the delicate bond between wine and humanity. Inspired by Roman mythology, the novel poses an unsettling question: what would happen if the god of wine decided to strip the world of one of its oldest pleasures? Through a narrative that weaves together myth, romance and cultural reflection, the story follows characters whose lives are forever changed under the shadow of a global curse.
Sofia: A young woman who emigrates to the United Kingdom, where she rebuilds her life without renouncing her passion for wine and knowledge.
Alejandro: A Venezuelan immigrant who finds refuge in gastronomy and faith in the face of adversity.
Kate: A brilliant British scientist at the University of Cambridge, determined to investigate the origins of the phenomenon threatening the global wine industry.
Nicoletta: A charismatic Italian professor of Roman mythology at La Sapienza, whose connection with Bacchus transcends time and reason.
Bacchus: The Roman god of wine, a divine yet profoundly human being who decides to punish the arrogance and ingratitude of mortals.
In the Eternal City, during a crucial academic evaluation, a student at the University of La Sapienza succumbs to an excess of wine and curses Bacchus with words laden with resentment. The deity, present in an indivisible form, witnesses the scene and decides the moment has come to punish the blasphemy born of human weakness.
In a revelatory dream, Nicoletta hears the proclamation of the curse in Latin:
"Bonum sapor vini mundi peribit, et vineae eius non poterunt offere messem bonam, et erit acetum omnis uva in terra."("The good taste of the world's wine will disappear. Its vineyards will bear no good harvest, and every grape on Earth will become bitter vinegar.")
From that moment, the taste of wine changes inexorably.
As the curse spreads, every opened bottle releases an acrid, unbearable aroma. Ancient vineyards lose their essence, and the global wine trade falls into crisis.
Meanwhile, Sofia and Alejandro forge new lives in England, united by nostalgia and the longing for redemption. Kate embarks on an international scientific investigation, convinced that a rational explanation could reverse the phenomenon.
In parallel, Bacchus gradually reveals himself to Nicoletta, appearing in dreams and confronting her with the weight of history and the power of myth. Between them, a unique bond is forged, marked by intellectual fascination and a desire that transcends the boundary between the divine and the human.
After travelling through Rome, Buenos Aires, Norwich, Edinburgh and the Mare Nostrum, the protagonists realise that the solution lies neither in science nor in technology. The only way to restore wine is to invoke Bacchus through an ancient Roman rite: an authentic Bacchanalia, steeped in music, desire and repentance.
In a secluded country house near Frosinone, Italy, Nicoletta and her students celebrate the rite, hoping to move the god’s heart. The deity finally manifests, drawn by the sincerity of their hearts and their acknowledgement of the power that humans had believed themselves to control for centuries.
Neither scientific advances nor the culinary passion of Alejandro and his mentor achieved what forgiveness and ritual communion accomplished: the restoration of wine’s essence, the universal symbol of celebration and memory.
The vineyards bloom once more, every cluster regains its sweetness, and humanity comes to understand that even the most ordinary pleasures demand respect. The novel culminates in the revelation of the love shared by Bacchus and two extraordinary women—a reminder that the divine may always find its reflection in the human.
The Curse of Bacchus is a story that speaks to contemporary sensibilities: it explores the cultural significance of wine, the fragility of our certainties and the search for collective redemption. Through a narrative that weaves emotion, history and myth, the novel offers a reflection on gratitude, memory, and the power of symbols to give meaning to our existence—and on how gods and mortals alike succumb to the greatness and nobility of true love.
— José Méndez
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