By Dennis Abrams

Well, some people said that Fifty Shades of Grey tie-in wine was pretty good … now Harlequin, one of the world’s leading publishers of romance novels, has announced the launch of Vintages by Harlequin, a new line of three wine varietals, using vintage Harlequin branding.

The wines were developed in collaboration with Vintage Wine Estates, a small group of vintner families from the North Coast of California, whose wines are sold in restaurants and retailers worldwide.

In a press release, Craig Swinwood, Publisher and CEO of Harlequin said:

“We are very excited about this business development and partnership. Harlequin has a deep history of creating experiences for women, and we are thrilled to bring this new opportunity to market. As a company, we strategically seek out partnerships with top quality brands that fit our vision for success. Vintage Wine Estates produces superior products and we’re proud to affix our brand to these carefully selected wines.”

Terry Wheatley, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Vintage Wine Estates added:

“It’s been great working with Harlequin on this exciting new venture, and we couldn’t be happier to be producing the first range of wines bearing the Harlequin brand. It’s a special experience to sit down with a good book and glass of wine. We look forward to offering Harlequin readers that moment of everyday indulgence.”

Three varietals are being featured by Vintages by Harlequin: a chardonnay, a cabernet sauvignon, and “a juicy and complex red wine blend.” The wines have a retail price of $14.95 and are available exclusively at Amazon.com for U.S. customers only.