The Billionaire's Vinegar

Benjamin Wallace's The Billionaire's Vinegar has an unusual structure in that it unfolds like a mystery, with our author slowly peeling back onion-like layers. Unfortunately, he has to go slow, as the big reveal isn't much of a payoff. Still, this is an engaging look into high-end wine drinking and collecting.

Wallace's narrative focuses on two characters: Michael Broadbent, an English oenophile and auctioneer, and Hardy Rodenstock, a German wine collector and aficionado. Our story opens with Broadbent auctioning off bottles of what is allegedly some red wine from the 18th century, supposedly from the cellars of Thomas Jefferson. This was immediately doubted by Monticello, as Jefferson had kept meticulous records, and did not have record of those specific vintages. Broadbent went ahead with the sale, as the bottles did appear sufficiently aged.

The Billionaire's Vinegar mainly concerns itself with Rodenstock's adventures and wine parties/lavish meals, although there's a fair amount of information on aging wine, the various chateaus in France, and trends in wine tasting and collecting. The reveal at the end isn't quite as complete or satisfying as I had been hoping, but it's a worthwhile read.