The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine It was the most expensivebottle of wine ever sold.

In 1985, at a heated auction by Christie’s of London, a 1787 bottle of Ch?teau Lafite Bordeaux—one of a cache of bottles unearthed in a bricked-up Paris cellar and supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson—went for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. The discoverer of the bottle was pop-band manager turned wine collector Hardy Rodenstock, who had a knack for finding extremely old and exquisite wines. But rumors about the bottle soon arose. Why wouldn’t Rodenstock reveal the exact location where it had been found? Was it part of a smuggled Nazi hoard? Or did his reticence conceal an even darker secret?

It would take more than two decades for those questions to be answered and involve a gallery of intriguing players—among them Michael Broadbent, the bicycle-riding British auctioneer who speaks of wines as if they are women and staked his reputation on the record-setting sale; Serena Sutcliffe, Broadbent’s elegant archrival, whose palate is covered by a hefty insurance policy; and Bill Koch, the extravagant Florida tycoon bent on exposing the truth about Rodenstock.
Pursuing the story from Monticello to London to Zurich to Munich and beyond, Benjamin Wallace also offers a mesmerizing history of wine, complete with vivid accounts of subterranean European laboratories where old vintages are dated and of Jefferson’s colorful, wine-soaked days in France, where he literally drank up the culture.

Suspenseful, witty, and thrillingly strange, The Billionaire’s Vinegar is the vintage tale of what could be the most elaborate con since the Hitler diaries. It is also the debut of an exceptionally powerful new voice in narrative non-
fiction.

Matt Kramer’s Making Sense of Italian Wine: Discovering Italy’s Greatest Wines and Best Values Matt Kramer, longtime Wine Spectator columnist and author of the classic Making Sense series of wine books, now turns his palate toward Italy. Though Italian wine is the most popular wine among consumers, it remains puzzling to most wine lovers who wouldn’t know a Barolo from a Barbaresco. Though shrouded in mystery, Italian wine has some of the most exciting and affordable varieties being produced today. Kramer is a trusted companion in the wine store, telling his readers the essentials: which wines can’t be missed, and which are safe to skip. Organized like a “Shopper’s Guide,” this unique book offers the lowdown on the most dazzling wines in every price range—their regions, traditions, and which foods to match with them. With Kramer’s trademark wit and intelligence, here is an invaluable tool to finding treasures in the local wine shop.
Customer Review: Great Primer to Italian Wines
There are some great reviews here of this book. The only thing I can add as someone who loves Italian wine is Matt Kramer does a great job with the big job he has given himself and tells you as much in his introduction. I thought the first 3 chapters were excellent with the philosophy of being Italian. Each chapter simply covers the basics of Northern Italy’s wine giving you producers who are good at that particuliar wine. I would recommend this book as a primer for the real beginner. God read.
Customer Review: Wonderful book.
This is a wonderful book.

I was already familiar with many Italian wines, but my knowledge and experience with them was scattered.
This book put so many things into perspective for me.
I went to Italy for the first time last September and now reading this book, I can look back and better understand and appreciate what I saw then.
The organization of the book is outstanding. The book has identified several wines of interest which I have now tried with great enjoyment.
Kramer’s writing style is not only informative, but he can turn a phrase and I found my self smiling at several points and then found myself looking for the next clever piece of writing.
This book has also triggered a desire to learn more about Italian wines and I have started reading the Joe Bastianich book as a follow up.
This book is a home run.