About Counterfeit Wine
Counterfeit Wines Overview
There are many, many types of wine fraud. The subject of wine fraud covers counterfeits, misrepresentations, wines sold which were sourced by theft, IP infringement, and any other circumstance that result in the liquid inside of the bottle to be different from the packaging on the outside, or the story of provenance that is told to sell the bottle.
This overview focuses only on the practices of counterfeiters of fine and rare wines. It is a deconstruction of the practices of the people who refill or create, or recreate, fine and rare bottles of wine and sell them, or get them sold, as authentic. From the history of wine counterfeiting, to cutting edge technologies being utilized and developed to combat counterfeits in the current market. Each aspect of wine packaging is discussed at length and presented with supporting photographs and media. Each of these sections will be updated and further illuminated on a regular basis. The goal is to provide up-to-date information to ensure continuing education and market protection.
History of Counterfeit Wines
Wine has been a very important beverage, and part of life in all of human history. And like all good things, where there is pleasure, luxury, and commerce, there exists the opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage. Thousands of years ago, quality from certain areas was recognized as superior, and thus, the span of wine- drinking human civilization is riddled with stories and accounts of charlatans making and selling counterfeit and adulterated wines.
Counterfeit Wines
Often Faked Wines
We have compiled lists of faked wines that we most frequently come across. Rather than just having one list of “highly faked wines”, which we do not think covers the subject adequately; we have broken down often faked wines by producer, vintage, regions, wines made by particular counterfeiters, and many more types of categories. We will add to and adjust these lists as the market shifts, new trends are uncovered, or new counterfeiters come to light. Members can reference these lists when checking inventories and potential acquisitions or sales.
Wine Authentication
This is an in-depth look at all the different parts of a wine bottle, their histories and how they have been counterfeited over time. In this section, we strive to teach diligent vendors and buyers what to look for and how to avoid bad purchases and sales by discussing in detail all of the materials that are used in the creation of wine as a packaged good. We delve into the unique areas of packaging specific to the wine industry, and include commentary about current efforts to provide anti-counterfeiting practices to that specific part of the packaging.