“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.
Rebecca Gibb is an award-winning wine journalist, the author of The Wines of New Zealand, and a Master of Wine.
"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
284 pp.5.5 x 8.5
9780520425170$19.95|£16.99Paper
Sep 2025