White Zin is In

Investigative journalist Chris Walker delves into a chilling murder case intertwined with a massive wine fraud scandal from the 1980s. The podcast "Blood Vines" explores the unexpected rise of White Zinfandel, a sweet, pink wine that became a cultural phenomenon, and its connection to a multimillion-dollar grape mislabeling scheme. As Walker examines evidence and interviews key figures, including prosecutor Steve Lapham and winemaker Joel Peterson, he uncovers a web of greed, deception, and betrayal involving the influential Licciardi family. This gripping narrative reveals the dark underbelly of California's wine industry and its far-reaching consequences.

• The setting is described as a stark contrast between the external heat and the cold, bureaucratic environment inside the courthouse.
• The narrator, Chris Walker, is an investigative journalist reviewing evidence related to a murder case intertwined with a fraud case.
• The presence of a legal clerk, Margarita, who handles the evidence due to restrictions on touching or photographing it.

"I'm in a private room off the courthouse's second floor lobby, and spread out before me on tables are envelopes, bags, and boxes."

• The environment is depicted as clinical, emphasizing the seriousness and gravity of the investigation.

• Chris Walker describes various pieces of evidence, including a pillowcase with dried bodily fluids, a blood-stained sweater, a towel, and a spent bullet casing.
• The murder weapon is identified as a modified Colt .45, disguised as a .22 caliber gun.

"So I'm looking at the pillowcase now, which has dried bodily fluid on it and looks kind of brown and crusty."

• The description of evidence highlights the gruesome nature of the crime scene and the meticulous examination process.

• Chris Walker views photographs of the murder scene, noting the victim's peaceful expression and the unsettling nature of the images.
• The victim was involved in a multimillion-dollar fraud case in the 1980s, which unexpectedly turned violent.

"After years of searching, I think I finally know who killed him."

• The narrative builds suspense around the murder mystery and its connection to a broader fraud investigation.

• The fraud case centered around the production and distribution of white Zinfandel, a sugary wine that became America's top-selling wine despite being looked down upon by wine connoisseurs.
• The investigation into the wine industry revealed widespread fraud and unexpected violence.

"It's not even really wine. It's just pop drink with alcohol."

• The quote underscores the perception of white Zinfandel as a low-quality product, contrasting with its commercial success.

• The success of white Zinfandel led to significant fraud within the wine industry, with many individuals and wineries implicated.
• The case is portrayed as a parable of greed, with the wine industry preferring to keep the scandal under wraps.

"People have fought over it and died over it and made lots of wine over it."

• The impact of the scandal is emphasized, highlighting the lengths individuals went to in pursuit of profit.

• The investigation uncovers themes of deception and betrayal, with family secrets and possible mafia involvement suggested.
• The narrative hints at a cover-up and the emotional toll on those involved.

"They both totally disappointed him. They broke his heart, they broke his spirit."

• The emotional impact of the betrayal is highlighted, adding a personal dimension to the broader scandal.

• Chris Walker invites listeners to join him in uncovering the full story behind the murder and fraud case, promising new revelations.
• The story is framed as a complex web of greed, deception, and violence within the wine industry.

"So pour yourself a glass and join me because I'm going to tell you a story."

• The invitation to listeners sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the intertwined murder and fraud cases.

• White Zinfandel, often referred to as White Zin, was initially considered a lesser wine but eventually became a cultural phenomenon.
• Despite being seen as a "red-headed stepchild" of wines, White Zin gained massive popularity in the American wine market, accounting for nearly 10% of it.
• The drink developed its own subculture, being prominently featured in media and social events.

"Once considered the red-headed stepchild of wines, it's having its moment in the sun. For the past 15 years, America has been in the middle of a fervor."

• White Zinfandel's rise to popularity was unexpected, given its origins and the initial perception of it as a lower-quality wine.

• White Zinfandel was created by accident at Sutter Home Winery in 1975 by winemaker Bob Trinchero.
• Trinchero unintentionally stopped the fermentation of Zinfandel juice, resulting in a sweet, lower-alcohol wine.
• Despite being an unintended product, White Zin was well-received, particularly by those who found traditional wines too dry or acidic.

"He kind of thoughtlessly dumped some juice into a tank of this, but he didn't realize it was almost done fermenting. And so the juice just stopped the fermentation."

• The accidental creation led to White Zinfandel's unique sweet flavor, which appealed to a wide audience and transformed Sutter Home Winery into a commercial powerhouse.

• White Zinfandel became a gateway wine for many Americans, offering a less intimidating entry into the world of wine.
• The wine's advertising campaigns emphasized its accessibility and sophistication, targeting those who desired a touch of class without the pretentiousness.

"White Zinfandel advertising campaigns presented this newest kind of ticket to the rarefied society of wine. A sort of gateway for the uninitiated."

• The marketing strategy successfully shifted American preferences from beer and cocktails to wine, marking a significant cultural shift.

• Initially, many in the wine industry dismissed White Zinfandel as a temporary trend that would soon fade.
• Bob Trinchero capitalized on this skepticism by securing contracts to buy large quantities of Zinfandel grapes, which proved to be a strategic advantage.

"Two big producers, Madhavi family and the Barringer family, they were saying, this is just a flash. It's gonna go away."

• Trinchero's foresight allowed Sutter Home to dominate the market, with sales skyrocketing from 25,000 bottles in 1980 to over 12 million by 1986.

• The success of White Zinfandel forced other wineries, including major players like Mondavi and Barringer, to eventually join the trend.
• By the time these wineries entered the market, Trinchero had already secured a significant portion of the Zinfandel grape supply, giving Sutter Home a competitive edge.

"As sales of Sutter Homes wine grew year over year, going from 25,000 bottles in 1980 to over 12 million six years later. No one could deny it anymore. White Zinn was in."

• This shift demonstrated the impact of strategic planning and market adaptation in the wine industry, highlighting the importance of recognizing and seizing opportunities.

• The White Zinfandel market experienced significant inflation, affecting both white and traditional red Zinfandel producers.
• Joel Peterson, a veteran winemaker, observed the rising costs of premium Zinfandel grapes from $200-$300 a ton to over $1,000 a ton.
• The popularity of White Zinfandel led to a supply shortage of its namesake grape, exacerbating economic challenges for producers.

"Like when I started in the business, $200 to $300 a ton for premium north coast infidel was pretty standard. And a few years later it was up to $1,000 a ton. Then it began to move beyond that."

• This quote highlights the dramatic increase in Zinfandel grape prices, reflecting the market's inflationary pressures.

• White Zinfandel was marketed as an inexpensive, casual wine, with Sutter Home setting a low price to appeal to a broad market.
• The low price point posed economic difficulties as grape prices soared, making it challenging to maintain profitability.

"An inexpensive wine, and the economics of it were difficult if your grape pricing got much above $500 a ton."

• This quote underscores the economic strain on producers attempting to keep White Zinfandel affordable amid rising grape costs.

• The situation presented opportunities for exploitation, such as mislabeling cheaper grapes as the more expensive Zinfandel variety for profit.
• Steve Lapham, a prosecutor, was approached by an ATF agent seeking to dismiss a wine-related investigation, but he recognized the potential for large-scale fraud.

"It wasn't just the fact that it involved wine, but I could see that it involved a fraud on a pretty large scale."

• This quote reveals Lapham's realization of the potential magnitude of the fraud, involving significant quantities of wine and financial implications.

• Reports suggested a mismatch between grape production and wine availability, indicating possible mislabeling and fraud.
• Lapham pursued the investigation, understanding the importance of protecting California's wine industry reputation.

"Wine is to California what apples are to Washington. I mean, this is a big business, and the reputation's made on quality, so that has to be defended."

• This quote emphasizes the significance of the wine industry to California's economy and the necessity of maintaining its quality and reputation.

• California's food and agriculture agents conducted stakeouts during the grape harvest to trace the source of the fraud.
• The investigation aimed to determine whether the fraud occurred in the fields, wineries, or stores.

"Their mission, to figure out where the fraud was happening. Was it in the field, at the winery? At the store?"

• This quote illustrates the comprehensive approach taken by agents to uncover the fraud's origin and ensure the integrity of the wine supply chain.

• Investigators tracked grape deliveries and found discrepancies between the field and winery records.
• False documents were created to make cheap grapes appear as expensive ones, leading to significant scale fraud.
• The mislabeling primarily affected white Zinfandel, a popular but low-quality wine.
• Large amounts of mislabeled grapes were delivered to well-known wineries, potentially producing hundreds of thousands of bottles.

"Trucks, and then after tailing the trucks, they wrote down the delivery times at each winery and reviewed the winery's paperwork."

• Investigators meticulously tracked grape deliveries, noting the timing and paperwork at wineries to uncover discrepancies.

"In other words, either the grape handlers or the wineries had created false documents to accompany the fruit. The wrong grapes were showing up as the right kinds in the winery's paperwork."

• False documentation was used to misrepresent the grape variety, misleading wineries and consumers about the wine's authenticity.

"Over just a few weeks in 1988, state agents had tracked multiple shipments, each with hundreds of tons of mislabeled grapes, to numerous wineries, including well known brands like Sebastiani Vineyards, Charles Krug and Robert Mondavi."

• The fraud involved large quantities of grapes and implicated several major wineries, highlighting the extensive nature of the deception.

• Delicato Vineyards, the nation's 10th largest winery, was a major recipient of mislabeled grapes.
• Corvette Co., run by the Licciardi family, was a key supplier of grapes to Delicato.
• Michael Licciardi was identified as a suspect, but his father, Jack Licciardi, was the true power behind Corvette Co.
• Jack Licciardi was a significant figure in California's wine industry, controlling grape movements and influencing winery operations.

"Michael Liciardi. This was the representative for Corvette Co. A young guy in his 30s with black hair and blue green eyes. At Delicato, he helped coordinate shipments of grapes into the winery compound, personally overseeing their deliveries."

• Michael Licciardi played a central role in grape deliveries at Delicato, making him a person of interest in the investigation.

"Corvette was really run by Michael's father, Jack Licciardi. And while the feds didn't know it yet, behind the scenes in California's wine industry, Jack's name carried weight."

• Jack Licciardi's influence and control over the grape supply chain made him a pivotal figure in the fraud investigation.

• The story raises questions about consumer trust and the authenticity of products.
• It challenges the perception of wine fraud as limited to rare and expensive bottles.
• The investigation uncovers a complex narrative involving family dynamics, crime, and justice.

"This involves all of us. A tale about bottles any of us could buy at the corner wine store. And that raises some fundamental questions about trust. How much do we really know about the things we buy?"

• The fraud highlights issues of consumer trust and the potential for deception in everyday products.

"And so not only is this story about one of the largest alcohol related frauds since the 1930s, one implicating America's favorite pink wine, it's also a story about family, honor, justice and blood."

• The narrative intertwines themes of crime, family loyalty, and the quest for justice, adding depth to the investigation.