Posted: Jun 27, 2017
Meet the woman on the trail of wine counterfeiters behind global frauds worth an estimated £800million.
Maureen Downey, dubbed the Sherlock Holmes of wine, says old bottles flogged on eBay help fuel the trade.
Empties that once held vintage wine are being sold with original corks for hundreds of pounds.
Swindlers then fill them with inferior wine and shift them to unsuspecting buyers for thousands.
An estimated 20 per cent of all “fine wine” is fake – around £800million-worth.
The problem has gotten worse in recent years as investors pour money into vintage wine, sending prices through the roof, says a BBC documentary.
Maureen, the world’s top wine expert, said: “Counterfeit wine is far more prevalent than people realise, affecting every level of the industry.
“In 15 to 20 years we have seen this highly lucrative, low-risk business explode, especially across Europe, where organised crime gangs are involved.”
American Maureen, who studies labels with a magnifying glass looking for the tiniest clues, helped put the biggest ever wine fraudster behind bars in 2013.
She was a prosecution witness in the trial of Rudy Kurniawan, who mixed fake vintage wine in his California kitchen.
Kurniawan was jailed for 10 years for selling £400million of fake plonk – much of it believed to be still in circulation.
Experts say the industry is not doing enough to tackle the problem due to the embarrassment of being duped.
Documentary presenter Susie Barrie said: “There are three ways to create a counterfeit bottle: refill an empty original with lesser wine, recreate an existing wine including the label, or make a vintage that never actually existed.”
Maureen Downey, the world’s top wine expert, says swindlers buy old bottles on eBay, fill them with inferior wine and sell them for thousands
“While most of us don’t buy super-expensive bottles of wine, there are also examples of everyday wines being faked.”
She found a 1984 Romanée Conti – a top Burgundy – with the original cork for £280 on eBay. Originals sell for £13,000.
How to spot a fake
Go-Wine's mission is to organize food and beverage information and make it universally accessible and beneficial. These are the benefits of sharing your article in Go-Wine.com
The Wine Thief Bistro & Specialty Wines is a locally owned small business in downtown Frankfort, IL offering world class wines in a relaxed, casual gathering spot for friends and family. Offering world class virtual tastings and touchless carryout.
https://www.twtwineclub.com/aboutusGo-Wine 25 Great Wineries in US selection prioritizes quality, value and availability.
www.go-wine.com/great-wineries-in-americaTasting wine is a nice experience, but visiting the places in which wine is made is a magic moment. Available in New York City for touchless pickup.