A story about counterfeit wine
Was the 1787 Bordeaux purchased by the billionaire Malcolm Forbes in the mid-1980s a rare wine once owned by Thomas Jefferson, or was it a fraud?
It all started with a bottle of French wine allegedly owned by Thomas Jefferson in the 1780s. Questions about the authenticity of the Jefferson bottles, which rattled the collecting establishment and launched a lawsuit, form the centerpiece of "The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the Worlds' Most Expensive Bottle of Wine," a book by journalist Benjamin Wallace. "Radio West's" Doug Fabrizio talks with Wallace about the obscure world of rare wines and how he traced the controversy told in his best-selling book.
Along the way, Wallace explores the techniques of wine counterfeiters, the excesses of this hobby and the allure of rare and old wine. It is not so much about the experience of tasting such wines. Many of these bottles are appreciated more by the mind than the palate. Wallace says that these people want a piece of frozen history.
Hosted by Doug Fabrizio, KUER’s award-winning "RadioWest" features conversations with authors, politicians, artists and others, examining today's national issues with a decidedly Western perspective.
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