Fine wine collector and con-artist Hardy Rodenstock dies

German Hardy Rodenstock was a world-renowned collector and wine merchant for very old bottles of wine has died.

His fall from grace was one of the largest fine wine frauds of the century when he tried to pass off wine that was purported to be owned by US president Thomas Jefferson. The wine was fraudulent, and Hardy refused to go to America to attend the trial nor give any evidence as to where, who and how he came to own the wines. His career ended with the court case.

A book, The Billionaire's Vinegar, was written by Benjamin Wallace giving a fun and fact filled look at the sale. The book was banned in the UK after Michael Broadbent, the head of Christie’s wine department at the time of the sale of the wine, successfully sued. Broadbent, it was stated in the book, had behaved in an unprofessional manner in the way in which he had auctioned some of these bottles.

Will Smith bought the rights to the movie which is reported to be released in 2019 starring Matthew McConaughey.