Introducing: Blood Vines

Summary

Criminal Attorney – Episode: Introducing: Blood Vines

Release Date: February 13, 2025
Host: Chris Walker
Available On: Wondery

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Overview

In the premiere episode of Blood Vines, hosted by investigative journalist Chris Walker, listeners are plunged into the tumultuous world of the Licciardi family—a formidable wine dynasty in California. The episode unravels a gripping tale of power, betrayal, and murder that nearly dismantled the entire wine industry. Through meticulous storytelling and compelling interviews, Walker sheds light on the hidden scandals that lie beneath the surface of one of America's most cherished industries.

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Setting the Stage

The narrative begins on a sweltering day in California's Central Valley, where Walker introduces us to the San Joaquin County Superior Courthouse. Here, a legal clerk named Margarita guides Walker through a series of unsettling evidence related to a murder case intertwined with a major fraud scandal in the wine industry.

• [00:45] Margarita on Court Exhibits:

  "We're going to go through them in the order that they were presented at trial and we'll see what comes up here."

The tension is palpable as Walker observes physical evidence, including a pillowcase with dried bodily fluids, a blood-stained cotton sweater, a spent bullet casing, and importantly, a .22 caliber Colt firearm identified as the murder weapon.

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Uncovering the Murder and Fraud Connection

As Walker delves deeper, he uncovers the shocking connection between the murder and a multi-million dollar fraud case from the 1980s that had been affecting the wine industry. The victim, once under investigation for a significant scam, becomes the centerpiece of a narrative that intertwines financial deceit with lethal violence.

• [04:32] Federal Investigator on the Murder:

  "He was murdered with a .22 caliber bullet to the head, which is a very mafia type way of doing it."

This revelation hints at organized crime's potential involvement, raising questions about the true motives behind both the fraud and the murder.

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The White Zinfandel Fraud Scheme

Central to the story is the investigation into White Zinfandel—a once top-selling pink wine that was later derided by critics. The fraud involved manipulating wine production and distribution, leading to vast quantities of subpar wine flooding the market under the guise of quality.

• [05:14] Wine Industry Expert on White Zinfandel:

  "This is what I call an eye roll drink."

• [05:16] Wine Critic on the Beverage:

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

The episode highlights how White Zinfandel, despite its commercial success, was perceived by insiders as a "gateway drug" that led consumers toward better wines, overshadowed by the fraudulent practices that tainted its reputation.

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Quotes and Insights

Throughout the episode, several key quotes provide insight into the pervasive deceit and its impact on individuals within the industry:

• [06:47] Federal Investigator on Field Trust Issues:

  "There was always this sense that you couldn't really trust what was in the field."

• [06:54] Wine Critic Reflecting on Industry Turmoil:

  "As time went on, you heard stories about a lot of different people and wineries involved in it. People have fought over it and died over it and made lots of wine over it."

• [07:22] Narrator on Family Secrets:

  "About stuff like that, about a family and its secrets."

• [07:26] Wine Critic on Mafia Connections:

  "We all felt that the family, being the mafia, were covering up something big."

These quotes underscore the deep-seated mistrust and the dangerous lengths to which individuals would go to protect their interests within the wine industry.

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The Aftermath and Industry Impact

The fallout from the fraud and the subsequent murder had lasting effects on the wine industry, shaking consumer confidence and leading to stricter regulations. The scandal exposed the vulnerabilities within the industry, where the veneer of quality and tradition often masked illicit activities.

• [07:42] Narrator on Industry Scandal:

  "And a scandal that threatened the integrity of an entire industry."

• [07:47] Federal Investigator on the Fraud's Magnitude:

  "This is a big fraud, multimillion dollar."

Walker emphasizes that the scandal was not just a high-stakes fraud but one that nearly brought down a dynastic empire, illustrating the precarious balance between business success and ethical integrity.

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Conclusion

Blood Vines sets the stage for an enthralling exploration of the Licciardi family's rise and fall within the California wine industry. Through expert interviews, vivid descriptions, and a compelling narrative, Chris Walker invites listeners to uncover the truth behind the glamour of wine production. The intertwining of fraud and murder presents a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power and the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition.

As Walker aptly puts it:

"It's a parable of greed that hardly anyone knows about, and the wine industry would prefer to keep it that way."
[05:31] Narrator

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Key Takeaways

• Interconnected Crimes: The episode masterfully links financial fraud with violent crime, highlighting the dangerous intersections within powerful industries.

• Industry Secrets: Blood Vines exposes the hidden machinations of the wine industry, revealing how success can sometimes be built on deceit.

• Human Element: Through personal anecdotes and emotional testimonies, the story underscores the human cost of corporate and criminal malfeasance.

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Notable Quotes

• Chris Walker on Unveiling the Story:

  "I'm about to reveal the full story for the very first time."
  [05:14]

• Narrator on Personal Connection:

  "I think I finally know who killed him."
  [03:38]

• Wine Critic on Industry Perceptions:

  "We all felt that the family, being the mafia, were covering up something big."
  [07:26]

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Final Thoughts

Introducing: Blood Vines serves as a captivating entry point into a saga of ambition, corruption, and retribution within one of America's beloved industries. Whether you're a true crime aficionado or a wine enthusiast, this episode promises a riveting journey through the vineyards and shadows of California's wine legacy.

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Listen to the full episode and dive deeper into the Licciardi family’s story exclusively on Wondery’s app or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Chris Walker]

Get ready for a whole new vintage of true crime. I'm Chris Walker, host of the new podcast Blood Vines. Available exclusively on Wondery. Blood Vines is a full bodied podcast that uncorks the never before told story of the Licciardi family, one of the most powerful wine dynasties in California history, who almost brought down the entire industry over a bloody battle for succession. Grab a glass of your favorite wine and join me as we dive into a story that has notes of fraud.

[Narrator]

And betrayal capped off with a big murder.

[Chris Walker]

I'm about to play you a clip from the first episode of Blood Vines. You can listen to all episodes right now on wondery. Cheers.

[Narrator]

June 11, 2021 It's a stifling hot day in California's Central Valley. The air feels thick and heat shimmers above the ground, but the area I've just walked into is cold, clinical, bureaucratic. I pull out my phone to record a voice memo.

[Margarita]

Okay, so I just got to the San Joaquin County Superior Courthouse to view the case exhibits. We're going to go through them in the order that they were presented at trial and we'll see what comes up here.

[Narrator]

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. A legal clerk named Margarita stands among them, wearing gloves. She doesn't want me to record her while she gives instructions, but they are as follows. I'm not to touch anything. I'm not to take photos. She will handle each piece of evidence so I can observe it. And yes, she says, I can record voice memos as I view the items. I'm nervous and excited. While I've read a lot about the evidence presented in this room, I've never seen any of it for myself. We start going through the case exhibits and Margarita looks a little grossed out. I can't blame her.

[Margarita]

So I'm looking at the pillowcase now, which has dried bodily fluid on it and looks kind of brown and crusty. And there's a floral print pattern with some dried brown stuff in the corner. Might be blood, might be other bodily fluid.

[Narrator]

Next comes a cotton sweater, its backside definitely dark with blood. There's a towel, a spent bullet casing, the murder weapon.

[Margarita]

It's the body of a Colt.45, but it's a.22, so it doesn't look like a.22, even though it is a small caliber gun, but yeah, kind of like a blue steel with wooden grips on the side.

[Narrator]

So far, most everything matches the police reports. There are a few Surprises like when the clerk produces a paper lunch bag full of audio cassette tapes. I'm going to need copies of those. And then, well, I'm not prepared for what comes next. Quick recording here.

[Margarita]

So I'm being presented with some of the photos, which is really quite striking to see for the first time. Having only read lots of descriptions of.

[Narrator]

This, it's the murder scene. And as I take in the details, it's the little things that get me. The crooked angle of the victim's neck. The way the man lies backwards, one leg straight, the other knee bent on a sofa. The expression on his face, peaceful, relaxed, unsuspecting. The photograph's grainy quality only adds to the eeriness. But I am also unsettled for a different reason. After years of searching, I think I finally know who killed him. My name is Chris Walker. I'm an investigative journalist. And for almost half a decade now I've been researching how the man in the photograph was connected to an entirely different case. A fraud case. You see, before his death, the victim was just one person under investigation for a multi million dollar scam in the 1980s. It sent ripples through one of California's most iconic industries. But no one thought that case would turn violent. The murder caught everyone off guard, including, as I was learning, federal investigators.

[Federal Investigator]

I was sitting in my family room watching the evening news. A spot came on about a murder and he was murdered with a.22 caliber bullet to the head, which is a very mafia type way of doing it.

[Narrator]

But the feds weren't looking into the mafia, or at least they didn't think they were. No, they'd been looking into a case involving wine. Lots and lots of wine sent from the heart of grape country to living rooms across America. We're talking about one of the largest scams in California history, affecting millions of bottles. But here's the thing. It's not like these bottles were top shelf wine.

[Wine Industry Expert]

This is what I call an eye roll drink.

[Wine Critic]

It's not even really wine. It's just pop drink with alcohol. When you're talking about white Zin, I.

[Federal Investigator]

Actually didn't like it as a wine. But I think white Zinfandel was kind of a gateway drug to better wines in some ways.

[Narrator]

White Zinfandel, the Fed's case centered around a pink drink with notes of jolly Ranchers that once was, to the embarrassment of many, America's top selling wine. This is the sugary sensation that birthed Americans obsession with turning countless drinkers onto pink wines. Even though from the get go, Snobs saw the drink as kitsch in federal investigators. While they could see fraud developing all around White Zinn, they didn't think the stakes were all that high. Some went so far as to call the investigation a joke. But what they couldn't anticipate is that this sweet drink would develop a sour history. Its unexpected success led the wine industry down a dark path, because fraud is one thing, but murder? What might have been a pop culture scam set in the fast and frivolous 80s turned into something shocking. Many stones were left unturned, questions unanswered. But I've been on the hunt for those answers and am about to reveal the full story for the very first time. It's a parable of greed that hardly anyone knows about, and the wine industry would prefer to keep it that way.

[Federal Investigator]

There was always this sense that you couldn't really trust what was in the field.

[Wine Critic]

As time went on, you heard stories about a lot of different people and wineries involved in it. People have fought over it and died over it and made lots of wine over it.

[Narrator]

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

[Wine Industry Expert]

It's quite a curious story of that crazy deal with the grapes and all that stuff they were saying they stashed the money and I mean, there's just all these theories that went around, man.

[Narrator]

About stuff like that, about a family and its secrets.

[Wine Critic]

We all felt that the family, being the mafia, were covering up something big.

[Narrator]

About deception and betrayal.

[Wine Industry Expert]

They both totally disappointed him. They broke his heart. They broke his spirit.

[Narrator]

And a scandal that threatened the integrity of an entire industry.

[Federal Investigator]

This is a big fraud, multimillion dollar.

[Narrator]

Fraud before it brought down a wine dynasty. I mean, the scandal takes on its own life. From Foxapus Inc. This is Blood Vines.

[Chris Walker]

Thirsty for more. Follow bloodvines wherever you listen to your podcasts and binge all episodes right now exclusively on Wondery. Start your free trial now by joining Wondery in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

[Criminal Attorney]

Follow Criminal Attorney on the Wondery App, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus and the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short [e-mail] survey.