Chris Walker
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
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 multimillion-dollar scam.
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 multimillion-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.
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.
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.
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.
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 rosé, turning countless drinkers onto pink wines, even though, from the get-go, snobs saw the drink as kitsch.
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 rosé, turning countless drinkers onto pink wines, even though, from the get-go, snobs saw the drink as kitsch.
And federal investigators, while they could see fraud developing all around White Zin, 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?
And federal investigators, while they could see fraud developing all around White Zin, 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.
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.
So pour yourself a glass and join me because I'm going to tell you a story.
So pour yourself a glass and join me because I'm going to tell you a story.
And a scandal that threatened the integrity of an entire industry. This is a big fraud, a multi-million dollar fraud. Before it brought down a wine dynasty. I mean, the scandal takes on its own life. From Foxopus Inc., this is Blood Vines. Let's start at the beginning, White Zinfandel. Never heard of White Zin? You must be under 40.
And a scandal that threatened the integrity of an entire industry. This is a big fraud, a multi-million dollar fraud. Before it brought down a wine dynasty. I mean, the scandal takes on its own life. From Foxopus Inc., this is Blood Vines. Let's start at the beginning, White Zinfandel. Never heard of White Zin? You must be under 40.