Former Orinda Man Faces Federal Charges For Wine Vault Arson

In a case that has fueled dinner-time conversations for months, a former Orinda man, wine connoisseur, Sausalito City Commissioner and all-around bon vivant is expected to face charges in Federal Court Tuesday for a convoluted embezzlement scheme that has left many in the wine industry in ruins.

Investigators say Mark C. Anderson crafted a complicated embezzlement scheme to steal wine from well-heeled clients and then set fire to his Cold War-era wine bunker to cover his tracks. Anderson, 61, is being tried on 19 felony counts of arson, mail fraud, tax evasion and other charges in connection with the 2005 fire in Vallejo. The federal trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

The case has become the focus of "wine snob" conversations in Lamorinda and around the world because the fire wiped out entire vintages of some of the most celebrated wineries in the Napa Valley. Others lost bottled samples of every one of their vintages.

For an in-depth look at the story, check out the New York Times story on Anderson and his exploits by clicking HERE.