Vintage Crime - by Rebecca Gibb

About the Book

"The world of wine prides itself on its aura of respectability, but it has always had a murky side. Packed with engaging vignettes, Vintage Crime brings to life famous enthusiasts and crafty con artists from ancient Rome to modern-day California. It also introduces us to lesser-known industry figures: the scrupulous merchants, honest growers, and cutting-edge scientists who have led the fight against fraudsters. Author Rebecca Gibb holds the rare, sought-after distinction of Master of Wine, yet she writes in an engaging style that doesn't require any prior wine knowledge, skillfully synthesizing popular wine histories for amateur sleuths and armchair sommeliers alike. Vintage Crime will intrigue the most sated of wine drinkers with its juicy tales of deception, raising interesting questions along the way: what counts as wine, why do we drink it, and what makes a wine truly authentic?"--

Book Synopsis

"This slim yet insightful and entertaining volume documents the many instances where wine drinkers did not get what they paid for, sometimes with deadly consequences."--New York Times, Best Wine Books of 2023

How fakes, fraudsters, and grape crusaders have shaped the world of wine.

This novel take on the history of wine reveals that, whether by adding toxic sweeteners or passing off counterfeit bottles, wine fraud is abundant--and as old as wine itself. Vintage Crime will intrigue even the most sated of wine drinkers with its juicy tales of deception, raising interesting questions along the way: what counts as wine, why do we drink it, and what makes a wine truly authentic?

The world of wine prides itself on its aura of respectability, but it has always had a murky side. Packed with engaging vignettes, Vintage Crime brings to life famous enthusiasts and crafty con artists from ancient Rome to modern-day California. It also introduces us to lesser-known industry figures: the scrupulous merchants, honest growers, and cutting-edge scientists who have led the fight against fraudsters. Author Rebecca Gibb holds the rare, sought-after distinction of Master of Wine, yet she writes in an engaging style that doesn't require any prior wine knowledge, skillfully synthesizing popular wine histories for amateur sleuths and armchair sommeliers alike.

A portion of book royalties will be donated by the author towards finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

From the Back Cover

"Wine fraud rarely makes the headlines. When it does, the wine world shouts that "something must be done!" and then immediately drops its guard. Rebecca Gibb's lively, engaging book is a good reminder that wine fraud is as old as wine itself, and perhaps less escapable than most of us would care to admit. Gibb expertly examines the evolution of wine regulations and tackles the philosophical interdependence between the authentic and the fake, all while invoking Richard Nixon and The Simpsons. The result is a witty, smart, and enjoyable romp through a subject all of us should be taking more seriously."--Kelli Audrey White, author of Napa Valley, Then and Now, and Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood

"Rebecca Gibb's rollicking prose delves into devious practices stretching back to Roman times and the rogue gallery of fraudsters whose stories belong as much in a detective novel as in an absorbing wine book."--Neal Martin, award-winning author of Pomerol

Review Quotes

"Eye-opening survey of wine chicanery through the ages right up to the present day."-- "Financial Times"

"Gibb writes with authority and nuance, pointing out that one oenophile's adulteration could well be another's amelioration, and she widens her aperture to provide an engaging history of restaurants and menus."-- "Airmail"

"This exceptionally well-researched and engaging exploration of wine fraud through the ages shook me to my core."-- "Australian Financial Review"

"[An] entertaining gallop through wine fraud down the ages."-- "Daily Mail"

"Takes the reader on a highly entertaining tour of wine fraud from ancient times up to the present day. . . . The book is full of brilliant details."-- "The Spectator UK"

"The British master of wine Rebecca Gibb has great fun picking through the skulduggery in an entertaining read that romps around the vineyards of the world." - Best Cookbooks and Food Writing of 2023-- "The Times"

"This slim yet insightful and entertaining volume documents the many instances where wine drinkers did not get what they paid for, sometimes with deadly consequences." - Best Wine Books of 2023-- "The New York Times"

"Triumphs in the way in which it combines a history of wine and the wine trade with some very detailed and well-researched examples of cunning crookery. Gibb writes well and can weave together convincing and authoritative tales of wine concoctions that would even make the three witches in Macbeth opt to go on the wagon."-- "Business Day"

"What a brilliant idea this is for a book. . . . No wine lover should be without a copy of Vintage Crime, though in future it might make you sniff a little more suspiciously when handed a glass of fine wine." - Best Wine Books for Christmas-- "Club Oenologique"

"What's most impressive is that Gibb has managed to maintain a lively, well-paced, humorous, deliciously gossipy, slyly acerbic narrative. While she's got a good grip on the events and is adept at teasing out the threads that come together to shape the course of history, it's her ability to bring people to life that underpins her storytelling."-- "JancisRobinson.com"

About the Author

Rebecca Gibb is an award-winning wine journalist, the author of The Wines of New Zealand, and a Master of Wine.