Michael Licciardi

But rather than fight the resulting criminal indictment, Delicato Vineyards negotiated a plea deal and agreed to pay a $1 million fine, at the time, the largest fine ever levied in California's wine industry. The winery's president, Anthony Indelicato, also divested his ownership stake and resigned from the company for a period of five years.

But rather than fight the resulting criminal indictment, Delicato Vineyards negotiated a plea deal and agreed to pay a $1 million fine, at the time, the largest fine ever levied in California's wine industry. The winery's president, Anthony Indelicato, also divested his ownership stake and resigned from the company for a period of five years.

Just like his former friend, Jack Licciardi, the grape mislabeling scandal stained his reputation. But Michael held little sympathy for his father's old pal. This was a chance to prove what he'd been saying all along, that the wineries knew they were shipping out fake wines, and that he should in no way receive so much blame for the fraud.

Just like his former friend, Jack Licciardi, the grape mislabeling scandal stained his reputation. But Michael held little sympathy for his father's old pal. This was a chance to prove what he'd been saying all along, that the wineries knew they were shipping out fake wines, and that he should in no way receive so much blame for the fraud.

He directed his lawyer to file a motion for a brand new trial. So now, with his father's murderer still on the loose and two close calls already, he just needed to stay alive long enough to prove himself incorruptible. I'm Chris Walker, your guide in this series about the largest grape rod in U.S.

He directed his lawyer to file a motion for a brand new trial. So now, with his father's murderer still on the loose and two close calls already, he just needed to stay alive long enough to prove himself incorruptible. I'm Chris Walker, your guide in this series about the largest grape rod in U.S.

history, the powerful family at the center of it, and how a stunning sequence of betrayals triggered the fall of the California dynasty and forever changed the way we make wine in America. From Fox Appasink, this is Blood Vines. Delicato's admission of guilt may have offered Michael hope for a new trial, but he also had more pressing matters to deal with.

history, the powerful family at the center of it, and how a stunning sequence of betrayals triggered the fall of the California dynasty and forever changed the way we make wine in America. From Fox Appasink, this is Blood Vines. Delicato's admission of guilt may have offered Michael hope for a new trial, but he also had more pressing matters to deal with.

Between his brother's civil suit and his near miss at the family ranch, he viewed Robert as an ever-present threat. And he wasn't the only one scared. According to his wife, Norma,

Between his brother's civil suit and his near miss at the family ranch, he viewed Robert as an ever-present threat. And he wasn't the only one scared. According to his wife, Norma,

Norma felt unnerved enough by the call that she implemented a special system for their four girls.

Norma felt unnerved enough by the call that she implemented a special system for their four girls.

Michael and Norma downplayed their daughter's questions about the code words, and for the most part, made it appear like nothing out of the ordinary was happening. But in private, it was impossible not to worry about Robert. He seemed hell-bent on getting his older brother out of the picture.

Michael and Norma downplayed their daughter's questions about the code words, and for the most part, made it appear like nothing out of the ordinary was happening. But in private, it was impossible not to worry about Robert. He seemed hell-bent on getting his older brother out of the picture.

Norma and Michael remained convinced that Robert had killed Jack to ensure that Michael lost his trial. But they needed a smoking gun to prove it. And so far, none of the evidence directly implicated Robert. Sure, his fingerprints were all over the crime scene, but as his parents' caretaker, that was to be expected.

Norma and Michael remained convinced that Robert had killed Jack to ensure that Michael lost his trial. But they needed a smoking gun to prove it. And so far, none of the evidence directly implicated Robert. Sure, his fingerprints were all over the crime scene, but as his parents' caretaker, that was to be expected.

As for the gun itself, all the Lichardi siblings knew where Jack kept the weapon hidden under his sofa's cushions. So Michael decided to go digging for additional clues that might help detectives and unearthed some disturbing memorabilia from Robert's drug days in the mid-80s, around the time he'd reportedly threatened his parents and sister with a gun.

As for the gun itself, all the Lichardi siblings knew where Jack kept the weapon hidden under his sofa's cushions. So Michael decided to go digging for additional clues that might help detectives and unearthed some disturbing memorabilia from Robert's drug days in the mid-80s, around the time he'd reportedly threatened his parents and sister with a gun.

This included a series of notes Robert had written Michael, scribbled on music notation paper. One of the pieces of sheet music read,

This included a series of notes Robert had written Michael, scribbled on music notation paper. One of the pieces of sheet music read,