The night after a verbal brawl with a noted wine critic on the grounds of George Washington's Mount Vernon, author and historian Valerie Beauvais turns up dead near Lucie Montgomery's Virginia vineyanrd. Lucie is certain Valerie knew a secret about a priceless Bordeaux Thomas Jefferson supposedly purchased for President Washington. When an unexpected visitor from eccentric winemaker Quinn Santori's past reveals a startling connection to the rare wine-and the murder-and a surprise visit from Lucie's beloved grandfather creates a stir, Lucie begins to wonder if wine is thicker than blood. A long-forgotten scandal is fermenting, and Lucie's investigation leads to a web of deceit and betrayal that not only affects the international wine world, but threatens her as well.