Spring Cleans the House — Fall Organizes the Cellar

Best Version Media · Maureen Downey, DipWSET, CWE · October 2026

Fall is when wine collections fall apart.Every shipment held for summer heat arrives at once, gets put away in a hurry (or not at all), and a once-organized cellar becomes a jumble. Then come the duplicate purchases and the bottles that quietly slip past their prime.I wrote up the four things I tell every collector to do this time of year, and they apply just as much to the estate managers and family office teams who keep those cellars running.

1843 · Coming soon

1843 · The Economist · Coming soon

Forthcoming feature in 1843, The Economist’s long-form magazine. Details to follow.

The Unexplained with William Shatner · Coming soon

Wine Fraud and Wine Scams

Really? no, Really? (iHeart podcast) · Jason Alexander & Peter Tilden (hosts) · November 14, 2023

The hosts turn to Downey, 'the Sherlock Holmes of Wine', to learn how wine fraud works and how buyers can protect themselves, including the Kurniawan saga.

The Authenticator

Wine Spectator · Esther Mobley · November 30, 2015

A Wine Spectator profile of Downey as 'the authenticator' of rare wine.

A nose for crime: counterfeit wines

Financial Times · Jancis Robinson · July 4, 2014

Jancis Robinson profiles Downey's path into wine, her cellar-management business and her lonely, outspoken crusade against counterfeit wine.

Cons and the Connoisseur

Bostonia (Boston University Alumni Magazine) · Patrick L. Kennedy · Fall 2013

Cover feature in BU's alumni magazine profiling Downey as a wine sleuth and collection manager—her path from SHA'94 to Chai Consulting, authentication work, and life among rare bottles.

Top 50 most powerful women in wine: 50 – 41

The Drinks Business · Lucy Shaw · December 5, 2012

Ranks Downey No. 43 among the 50 most powerful women in wine, citing her authentication expertise and her role during the Kurniawan trial.

In Wine Country, Sales Are Down and Fraud Is Rampant

The New York Times · DealBook · April 25, 2026

Maureen Downey, an expert on wine fraud and the founder of Chai Consulting, blames the proliferation of wine crime on the industry's murky supply chain and opaque secondary market.

Cracking down on fraud: Using tech to battle counterfeit wine

Decanter · Elaine Maguire O'Conner · November 6, 2025

A feature on technology against counterfeit wine. Downey argues the problem is bigger than anyone realises and makes the case for her blockchain-backed Chai Vault approach to provenance.

Yellow Tail wine fraud 'limited to indie retailers', says group MD

The Drinks Business · Sarah Neish · May 7, 2025

Casella's UK managing director responds to Downey's warning that criminal gangs are faking Yellow Tail. He says the problem is limited to independent retailers.

Gangs spend £500,000 faking wine bottles and labels

The Drinks Business · Sarah Neish · May 6, 2025

Reports Downey's Wine Blast podcast claim that Asian and European crime groups spent up to £500,000 copying Yellow Tail bottles and labels, and explains why fakes of everyday brands are harder to pull off.

Yellow Tail owner reassures shoppers over counterfeit bottles

Convenience Store · James Beeson · May 6, 2025

Casella Family Brands reassures convenience retailers after Downey said organised criminals were making high-end Yellow Tail counterfeits. It says the issue dates from 2019 and is largely resolved.

Whisky & True Crime Story (EN)

Der Whisky-Botschafter · Ina Verstl · January 20, 2025

An article on counterfeit spirits citing Downey's view that conflict zones such as Syria are major sources of fakes, and her story of a 'premium' gin that froze in a hotel fridge.

Aventuras, técnicas e desafios da “Sherlock Homes” dos vinhos falsificados

VEJA (Brazil) · Marianne Piemonte · November 9, 2024

A Portuguese-language profile of the 'Sherlock Holmes' of counterfeit wine, covering her techniques and her view that Brazil is a perfect market for fraudsters.

How expert wine fraud detector Maureen Downey uncovers counterfeiters and is using blockchain to simplify authentication

South China Morning Post · Joyce Yip · February 29, 2024

A profile of Downey's work helping US law enforcement crack wine-fraud cases, from Rodenstock and Kurniawan to using blockchain to simplify authentication.

Can machines taste wine?

JancisRobinson.com · December 30, 2023

Jancis Robinson quotes Downey of Chai Consulting dismissing AI ‘noses’ for fraud detection that cannot distinguish neighbouring Burgundy sites such as DRC Romanée-Conti from de Montille Malconsorts.

Genuine forgeries as Kurniawan returns

The Real Review · Bob Campbell MW · November 20, 2023

Reports on Kurniawan's return to wine as a hired forger at Singapore dinners. It cites Downey's WineFraud.com findings that most guests preferred his copies.

Maureen Downey: 'Wine counterfeits will continue to be a problem'

The Drinks Business · Nimmi Malhotra · November 9, 2023

Covers Downey's masterclass at 67 Pall Mall Singapore on counterfeits, NFTs and Kurniawan. She argues fakes will persist until the supply chain gets real oversight.

Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan is back in the wine business

The Drinks Business · Arabella Mileham · November 1, 2023

Downey uncovered at least two 2023 parties where Kurniawan was reportedly paid to make fake versions of top wines such as 1990 DRC Romanée-Conti and Petrus.

Rudy Back in the Fake Wine Game

Wine-Searcher · W. Blake Gray · October 29, 2023

Downey reveals photos and tasting notes from a Singapore dinner where guests paid Kurniawan to make fakes. She comments that 'people like to hang out with gangsters.'

How the industry is tackling fake alcohol

The Spirits Business · Nicola Carruthers · April 12, 2023

On the Fraud Advisory Panel's alcohol-fraud report, to which Downey contributed. She warns that fakes and swapped bottles reach supermarkets too.

Wine crime is soaring but a new generation of tech savvy detectives is on the case

The Guardian / Observer · Ed Cumming · February 27, 2022

A feature on rising wine crime and a new generation of tech-savvy detectives. It names Downey as a key Kurniawan investigator and 'the godmother of the wine-authentication business'.

Contraffazione, un “furto” da 15 miliardi di dollari all’anno al mercato dei fine wines

WineNews (Italy) · October 19, 2021

Coverage of Downey’s Wine2Wine Verona talk on industrial-scale counterfeiting, Yellow Tail-style volume fakes, layered anti-fraud tech, and Italian DOCG seals among forged elements.

Winemakers Use Ultraviolet Ink and Microprinting to Deter Scammers

Business Insider · Peter Hellman · September 16, 2021

On how wineries use UV ink, microprinting and security tags against fakes. Downey calls counterfeiting 'a plague that is not going away' and her Chai Vault is presented as a leading anti-fraud option.

US deports Wine Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan to Indonesia

Indian Wine Academy · Subhash Arora · April 15, 2021

Reports Kurniawan's deportation to Indonesia. It recalls Downey telling the author in 2018 that his distributors were waiting for his release and that the 'big fish' was never caught.

Beyond High-Profile Scandals, Wine Fraud Is Rampant

SevenFifty Daily · Lana Bortolot · February 15, 2021

Wine fraud reaches well beyond headline scandals. Downey explains how the pandemic disrupted preventive checks and gives her multi-billion-dollar estimate of the fake wine market.

King of Wine Fraud Facing Freedom

Wine-Searcher · W. Blake Gray · November 4, 2020

As Kurniawan nears release from prison, Downey notes he never apologised or named accomplices, and says she believes 'he's got hush money waiting for him.'

Business Today 今周刊 — Maureen Downey Taipei visit

Business Today (今周刊, Taiwan) · February 12, 2020

Taiwanese print coverage of Downey’s Taipei visit and work on wine authentication and fraud.

Wine Vault Opens the Fight on Fakes

Wine-Searcher · Wine-Searcher staff · September 6, 2019

Covers the launch of Downey's Chai Vault protocol, which lets buyers check a wine or spirit bottle's authenticity and provenance online before purchase.

What's In Your Cellar? Counterfeit Wines Are A Multi-Billion Dollar Problem

Forbes · Joseph V. Micallef · December 1, 2018

A sit-down interview with Downey on how wine fraud became a billion-dollar problem, how counterfeiters work and how collectors can protect themselves.

How Will Blockchain Technology Change Wine?

Social Vignerons · Julien Miquel · September 11, 2018

Interview with Downey on how blockchain could secure the authenticity and provenance of fine wine, and on the thinking behind her Chai Vault.

A Counterfeit Expert's Solution for Eliminating Fake Wines

SevenFifty Daily · Shana Clarke · March 2, 2018

Profiles Downey's career catching fakes and putting counterfeiters like Kurniawan in jail, and how she came to build a blockchain ledger for bottle provenance.

Outlook: Cracking a $30m Case of Wine Fraud

BBC World Service · February 7, 2018

A BBC World Service Outlook radio profile of how 'wine detective' Downey helped uncover a multi-million-dollar counterfeiting operation.

The Bottle and the Blockchain: Securing Authenticity and Proving Provenance in a Global Wine Market

The Brand Protection Professional (MSU) · Maureen Downey · December 2017

Downey's own article on securing authenticity and proving provenance in the global wine market. It covers counterfeit detection, training and blockchain-based tracking.

Wine authentication … fake and fraudulent wines ….

Winehog · June 1, 2017

Steen Öhman’s first-hand report on Downey’s May 2017 London authentication training at 67 Pall Mall, including hands-on detection of a fake 1966 Lafite magnum brought by a participant.

Ein Tag mit Maureen Downey (DER WEINVERSTAND BRIEF No. 1/2017)

Der Weinverstand Brief (Ulrich Sautter) · May 30, 2017

German newsletter feature: a day in Downey’s London seminar—$3bn fake-market estimate, Haut-Brion 1988 counterfeit case study, and why Europe as well as Asia is a counterfeiting hub.

Fighting fraud: knowledge is power

World of Fine Wine · Anne Krebiehl MW · March 9, 2017

Report on Downey's first wine-fraud and authentication classes for professionals and collectors in London, and why knowledge is the main defence against fakes.

Classic wine, trusted wine

Decanter China (醇鉴中国) · March 6, 2017

Andrew Jefford’s Asia-facing column on trust and counterfeits in China names Downey’s winefraud.com work and Chai Wine Vault as groundwork for authenticating secondary-market wine.

Is Hong Kong awash with fake wines? We seek expert knowledge

South China Morning Post · Bernice Chan · March 2, 2017

Downey warns that Hong Kong has become a dumping ground for fake wines and shares tips for telling a fake Bordeaux or Champagne from the real thing.

Bitter tasting: wine fraud

ACFE Fraud Magazine · Donn LeVie, Jr., CFE · March 1, 2017

A Fraud Magazine look at wine counterfeiting for fraud examiners. It cites Downey's point that a counterfeit wine cannot be detected by taste.

Fake Wine Is A Billion Dollar Market And Here Are The Ways To Identify Them

Forbes · Jeannie Cho Lee · February 17, 2017

Jeannie Cho Lee reports on Downey's Hong Kong authentication class: her roughly $3 billion estimate of the fake wine market and the main types of fakes and how to spot them.

Fine wine fakers targeting Asian collectors

The Drinks Business · Natalie Wang · February 14, 2017

At a Hong Kong seminar, Downey warns that counterfeiters are deliberately targeting Asian collectors with fakes made in Europe.

How To Avoid Buying Fake Wine

Forbes · Jeannie Cho Lee · January 22, 2017

Downey explains how widespread fake wine is, from mislabelled bulk wine to Lafite, saying 20% 'is probably conservative', and gives buyers practical precautions.

How to spot a fake wine: 10 signs to look for

Decanter China (醇鉴中国) · January 5, 2017

Decanter China’s guide from a Downey/Chai Consulting masterclass: unicorn bottles, ultrawhite labels, print tells, capsules, corks, glass and sediment—framed for Asia readers, with Chinese translation.

How to spot a fake wine: 10 signs to look for

Decanter · January 5, 2017

Laura Seal’s Decanter guide from Downey and Siobhan Turner’s masterclass: ten forensic tells for spotting counterfeit fine wine, from unicorn formats to sediment.

Jefford on Monday: Classic wine, trusted wine

Decanter · December 26, 2016

Andrew Jefford on trust, Chinese counterfeit risk, and Downey’s winefraud.com / Chai Wine Vault work as a response in the secondary market.

'Sour Grapes': Film Review

The Hollywood Reporter · Justin Lowe · December 15, 2016

Review of the documentary Sour Grapes, which names Downey among the key figures and notes that she raised early suspicions about Kurniawan's sales.

Haul of fake Scotch hints at wider world of counterfeits

The Drinks Business · Rupert Millar · December 9, 2016

On fake Scotch pulled from auction. It draws a parallel with Downey's claim that millions of dollars of Kurniawan fakes are still circulating.

How much fake fine wine is in the market?

The Drinks Business · Patrick Schmitt · December 7, 2016

At a London masterclass Downey puts the value of fake fine wine at about $3 billion and warns that fakes now reach beyond classic Bordeaux and Burgundy.

New system claims best protection yet against wine fraud

Decanter · Jane Anson · November 25, 2016

Downey prepares to launch a new anti-fraud system. She argues single-layer tech like RFID chips fails and expects certified bottles to be worth 20–40% more.

Sour Grapes, a wine fraud documentary coming to Netflix

Dr Vino · Dr. Vino · September 13, 2016

Previews the Sour Grapes documentary coming to Netflix and lists Downey among the film's wine-fraud detectives.

'Sour Grapes' Review

Variety · Dennis Harvey · May 27, 2016

Variety's review of Sour Grapes quotes Downey on the male-dominated world of high-end collectors and lists her among the film's subjects.

For the food industry, fraud is the elephant in the room

The Globe and Mail · March 15, 2016

Commentary on how Counterfeit products threaten the food industry.

Wine makers in a froth over ‘fake’ Prosecco

Daily Mail · December 30, 2015

Italian producers take steps to ban Prosecco ‘imitations’ from Russia and Germany.

The Authenticator

Wine Spectator · Esther Mobley · November 30, 2015

A Wine Spectator profile of Downey as 'the authenticator' of rare wine.

»Kein Mensch erkennt das am Geschmack«

Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin · November 29, 2015

German magazine interview with Downey on Kurniawan, Rodenstock, why taste cannot authenticate old wine, WineFraud.com, and advice for collectors; notes fakes still circulating in London, Stockholm and Hong Kong.

Fraud, Counterfeit, and the Sommelier

GuildSomm · Erin Brooks · November 14, 2015

A long GuildSomm interview with Downey on how deep wine fraud goes, where sommeliers fit in, how she first spotted fakes at auction, and the French Laundry theft.

Sip On This: That $10,000 (Or $30) Bottle Of Wine Might Be Fake

NPR · Jackie Northam · October 13, 2015

Downey describes Kurniawan's home as 'a wine counterfeiting factory' and explains why fake wine is hard to detect.

The Greed Report: 'In Wine There is Truth—and Scams! Don't Get Bamboozled by Bogus Bordeaux'

CNBC (American Greed) · Scott Cohn · July 24, 2015

An American Greed piece on wine scams. Downey explains how Kurniawan used good materials and gives tips for avoiding bogus Bordeaux.

Watch How an Expert Spots Fraudulent Wine

Smithsonian · Maris Fessenden · May 26, 2015

Smithsonian highlights Bloomberg's video of 'the Sherlock Holmes of Wine' examining bottles, explaining how Downey checks labels, capsules and corks for signs of fraud.

The 'Sherlock Holmes' of Wine Shows You How to Spot a Fake

Eater · Lucas Kwan Peterson · May 26, 2015

Eater shares the Bloomberg video in which Downey shows what she looks for when spotting an expensive fake.

Watch Wine Fraud: How to Know If Your Expensive Wine Is Fake

Bloomberg · Jennafer Savino & Amy Marino · May 21, 2015

Bloomberg video in which Downey demonstrates how to tell whether an expensive bottle is fake.

Brad and Angelina have experienced wine fraud – and you could too

The Telegraph · Victoria Moore · May 9, 2015

A profile of Maureen Downey and her work exposing Counterfeit wine, noting that counterfeiting is not restricted to the auction end of the market.

How to avoid buying fake bottles of wine

Australian Financial Review · Elin McCoy · February 12, 2015

Elin McCoy's guide to avoiding fake bottles. It notes that Downey, who helped the FBI bring down Kurniawan, was launching a website to teach collectors to spot fakes.

French Laundry Wine Turns Up in North Carolina

Wine-Searcher · W. Blake Gray · January 26, 2015

Wine stolen from the French Laundry turns up in North Carolina. Downey, whom the FBI asked for help, suggests the bottles were stolen to order and passed through layers of brokers.

Expert Collectible Collectibles December 2014

Robb Report · Dan Fredman · December 8, 2014

Robb Report's Expert Eye column notes that much of the evidence against Kurniawan came from Downey, who says 'nobody can taste for authenticity.'

How Wine Fraud Is Destroying the Rare Wine Business

Eater · October 14, 2014

How wine fraud is affecting the business of selling rare bottles.

A word about fakes: Maureen Downey

The Drinks Business · Tom Bruce Gardyne · September 16, 2014

A Q&A after Kurniawan's sentencing. Downey speaks out on fakes and on whether producers are doing enough, and lists the bottles she most often sees faked.

Police foil €1m Counterfeit wine scam in Italy

SecuringIndustry.com · September 11, 2014

Italian police seize Counterfeit Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino worth an estimated €1m, along with more than 2,000 fake labels.

The big fake fall out

The Drinks Business · Tom Bruce Gardyne · August 28, 2014

On the market fallout from the Kurniawan case. Downey estimates he sold around US$100 million of wine between 2002 and 2013.

Il Sassicaia, il Brunello di Montalcino Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera ed il Barolo di Bruno Giacosa: ecco, nell'ordine i vini italiani più contraffatti nel mondo

WineNews (Italy) · WineNews staff (redazione) · August 22, 2014

Italian report citing Downey's list of the most-counterfeited Italian wines: Sassicaia, Soldera's Case Basse Brunello and Bruno Giacosa Barolo.

10 Years "Just About Right" for Wine Fraudster Rudy

Wine-Searcher · Leslie Gevirtz · August 8, 2014

Reactions to Kurniawan's 10-year sentence. Downey, who spent years working against him, calls it 'just about right'.

Wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan sentenced to 10 years in prison

Decanter · Chris Mercer · August 8, 2014

Decanter reports Kurniawan's 10-year sentence, quoting Downey, who inspected his wines for several clients, on how people were 'robbed of the joy' of old and rare wine.

Prominent Wine Dealer Rudy Kurniawan Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 10 Years in Prison for Selling Millions of Dollars of Counterfeit Wine

FBI New York · Press release · August 7, 2014

The FBI announcement of Rudy Kurniawan’s 10-year federal prison sentence for selling Counterfeit wine.

Acker Merrall auction house pays out to settle Koch fake wines case

Decanter · July 16, 2014

Acker Merrall & Condit settles Bill Koch’s case over fake wines.

A nose for crime: counterfeit wines

Financial Times · Jancis Robinson · July 4, 2014

Jancis Robinson profiles Downey's path into wine, her cellar-management business and her lonely, outspoken crusade against counterfeit wine.

How Atomic Particles Helped Solve A Wine Fraud Mystery

NPR (The Kitchen Sisters) · The Kitchen Sisters · June 3, 2014

An NPR story on how atomic-particle dating helped expose fakes. It features Downey's forensic toolkit, the history of wine fraud and Kurniawan's 'recipes'.

The Decanter interview: Maureen Downey

Decanter · John Stimpfig · April 17, 2014

An in-depth Decanter interview with 'fine wine's answer to Sherlock Holmes' on her self-taught skills, raising the alarm on Kurniawan and her authentication work.

The Proust Q&A: Maureen Downey

The Drinks Business · Lucy Shaw · February 14, 2014

A personal Proust-style Q&A with Downey, introduced as a leading fine-wine authentication expert and founder of Chai Consulting.

Wine Opinion: How to spot a counterfeit

South China Morning Post · December 19, 2013

Debra Meiburg MW and Sarah Heller cite Downey’s advice to ‘just keep screaming’ about counterfeits in Hong Kong, discussing Asian face culture, duty-free sourcing, and the estimated scale of fake wine.

Wine dealer accused of fraud that drove up prices worldwide

Los Angeles Times · Tina Susman · December 18, 2013

Coverage of Kurniawan's trial. Downey, who came to New York to watch it, says his fraud drove up wine prices for everyone.

Wine Dealer Who Drove Up The Price Of Wine With Counterfeit Bottles Goes To Trial

LAist · Krista Simmons · December 18, 2013

LAist's write-up of the Kurniawan trial, quoting Downey that 'every single person who drinks wine was affected by this.'

Who Are Wine Counterfeiters Fooling? (A Lot of Folks)

Wine Spectator · Robert Taylor · November 21, 2013

Downey disputes claims about how much fake wine is out there, saying it is impossible to quantify and that counterfeits are not actually on the rise.

Fifth of wine sold worldwide is ‘fake’

The Telegraph · Henry Samuel · November 1, 2013

Reports an unofficial wine-industry estimate, published by Sud Ouest, that Counterfeit wine accounts for some 20 per cent of international sales.

Police raids reveal suspected DRC wine fraud ring

Decanter · October 22, 2013

Police raids uncover a suspected ring faking Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Tech Guru Eric Greenberg Ordered To Pay $12M Over Fake Wine

The Forward · April 12, 2013

Coverage of the Koch v. Greenberg verdict over Counterfeit wine.

Wine fraud lawsuit is a test of bottle for billionaire Bill Koch

The Guardian · Matt Williams · March 24, 2013

On Bill Koch's lawsuit over fake wines. Downey, due to give evidence, says the most blatant fraud happened between 2004 and 2009.

Cons and the Connoisseur

Bostonia (Boston University Alumni Magazine) · Patrick L. Kennedy · Fall 2013

Cover feature in BU's alumni magazine profiling Downey as a wine sleuth and collection manager—her path from SHA'94 to Chai Consulting, authentication work, and life among rare bottles.

Top 50 most powerful women in wine: 50 – 41

The Drinks Business · Lucy Shaw · December 5, 2012

Ranks Downey No. 43 among the 50 most powerful women in wine, citing her authentication expertise and her role during the Kurniawan trial.

Counterfeit Wine?

Inside Edition · Inside Edition staff · November 9, 2012

An Inside Edition investigation into counterfeit wine in which Downey, 'one of the leading wine sleuths in the country', calls the fakery 'very brazen.'

The Wine Detective: Maureen Downey Reveals Forged Bottles

SF Weekly · SF Weekly Staff · August 29, 2012

A long SF Weekly profile of 'the wine detective' showing forged bottles in her Cow Hollow office and describing her blunt style.

Old and Rare Wines For the Masses

Wine-Searcher · Maureen Downey · June 22, 2012

The first of Downey's regular columns, examining how Kurniawan allegedly hoodwinked buyers with fake old and rare wines.

Ferreting Out Faux Bordeaux

Bostonia (Boston University) · Patrick L. Kennedy · June 12, 2012

A Boston University alumni profile of Downey (SHA'94) on managing rare-wine collections, spotting fakes and why wine is a viable career.

Grand Jury Indicts the Man Known As "Dr Conti"

Wine-Searcher · Karin Zeitvogel (page byline: Rebecca Gibb) · May 10, 2012

After Kurniawan's indictment Downey says she feels vindicated after years of being told she was wrong, and argues he did not act alone.

China’s Fake Ice Wine Epidemic

Wine Spectator · February 3, 2011

Report on the spread of fake ice wine in China.

Sniffing Out A Fake

Wine Spectator · Mitch Frank · December 15, 2009

An early Wine Spectator profile of Downey's authentication work. It notes that she never calls a bottle fake outright.

A vintage mess: How Hardy Rodenstock became the most notorious name in wine

The Independent · Benjamin Wallace · October 4, 2008

The story of Hardy Rodenstock, the dealer accused of forging some of the most famous bottles ever sold.

Hunting Fake Wine with Counterfeit Expert Maureen Downey

The Zonda Wine Podcast · Shawn Zylberberg (host) · September 4, 2026

Downey describes how she broke into the fine wine trade, how she helped the FBI and Bill Koch catch Rudy Kurniawan, and how counterfeiters are using increasingly sophisticated technology.

Ep 272 – Counterfeit Wine & Wine Fraud: Could Your Wine Be Fake? With Maureen Downey

Eat Sleep Wine Repeat (podcast) · Janina Doyle (host) · July 27, 2026

Podcast episode in which Downey explains how counterfeit wine enters the market, which wines are most often faked, how experts judge whether a bottle is genuine, and what the Kurniawan case revealed.

Uncorking Wine Fraud: Maureen Downey on Counterfeits, Crime, and Blockchain Solutions

Wine Talks with Paul K. (podcast) · Paul Kalemkiarian (host) · May 7, 2026

Interview covering Downey's career, her view of convicted counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan, wider wine crime, and blockchain-based tools for proving a bottle's authenticity.

Fake Wine: A Laughing Matter? Wine Blast podcast

Wine Blast (podcast) · Susie Barrie & Peter Richards (hosts) · May 2, 2025

A Wine Blast episode on wine fraud with Downey and Simpsons co-writer Johnny LaZebnik. Downey covers illicit alcohol, organised crime and the damage fakes do to the trade.

Wine Fraud | Skeptical Sunday

The Jordan Harbinger Show (podcast) · Jordan Harbinger (host) · November 10, 2024

A Skeptical Sunday episode on wine fraud that tells the Kurniawan story and credits Downey as one of the first experts to raise suspicions about him.

Is Your Expensive Wine Fake? Find Out Now Using Blockchain | Maureen Downey

Wine Talks with Paul K. (podcast) · Paul Kalemkiarian (host) · August 16, 2024

Downey shares tips for spotting counterfeit wine, the long history of wine fraud and how blockchain technology is changing authentication.

Wine Fraud and Wine Scams

Really? no, Really? (iHeart podcast) · Jason Alexander & Peter Tilden (hosts) · November 14, 2023

The hosts turn to Downey, 'the Sherlock Holmes of Wine', to learn how wine fraud works and how buyers can protect themselves, including the Kurniawan saga.

Episode 153: Where Is Wine Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan Now?

Wine Enthusiast Podcast · Christina Pickard (host) · November 7, 2023

Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large Christina Pickard talks with Downey about the latest in the Kurniawan case and where the convicted counterfeiter is now.

Fighting Wine Crime – with Maureen Downey

The Cellar Door Podcast · Tom Massey (host) · September 17, 2023

Long-form interview in which Downey tells her story and talks about her ongoing fight against wine crime.

Counterfeit wine is real (real fake!). Meet the pre-eminent authority, Maureen Downey.

Wine Talks with Paul K. (podcast) · Paul Kalemkiarian (host) · September 7, 2023

The first of a two-part conversation in which Downey discusses the Kurniawan case, the FBI turning to her for counsel, and counterfeiting that now reaches everyday wines such as Yellow Tail.

EP 07 – The Future of Wine Fraud with Maureen Downey

Wines of the Future (podcast) · April 24, 2023

Podcast episode in which Downey looks ahead at the future of wine fraud.

Cork Talk with Maureen Downey

Tim Atkin MW — Cork Talk (podcast) · February 3, 2023

Tim Atkin MW interviews the ‘Sherlock Holmes of wine’ on investment, auction houses, provenance, undercover work and the ‘six Ds’ that put cellars on the market.

Let's Talk With… Maureen Downey

The Wine Conversation · Jane Anson (host); page by Sarah Kemp · October 31, 2022

Jane Anson talks with Downey about wine fraud: her path from sommelier to authenticator, how fakes are made and what collectors should watch for.

Global Wine & Spirits Fraud: Technology To The Rescue? | Maureen Downey

Beverage Trade Network (podcast) · June 27, 2022

Downey's session from the first Future Drinks Expo in South San Francisco, on the scope of wine and spirits fraud and how well the technologies used to fight it work.

Maureen Downey – Fighting Wine Fraud One Bottle at a Time

The Connected Table Live (podcast) · Melanie Young & David Ransom (hosts) · March 17, 2022

Downey explains how wine counterfeiting, a $3+ billion industry, harms businesses, public works and unsuspecting consumers.

Maureen Downey – Wine Authenticator/Fraud Expert

Fearless Fabulous You (podcast) · Melanie Young (host) · March 17, 2022

Downey explains how counterfeiting hurts livelihoods, businesses and government tax revenue, and advises buyers to research sellers, ask questions and report suspected fraud.

Maureen Downey on Wine Fraud

UK Wine Show (podcast) · Chris Scott (host) · November 18, 2021

Chris Scott talks with Downey about wine fraud and the wine authentication she provides through Chai Consulting.

Ep. 702 Chris Scott Interviews Maureen Downey | Wine2wine 2021 Clubhouse Marathon

Italian Wine Podcast / UK Wine Show · 2021

Chris Scott (UK Wine Show) interviews Downey during the Wine2Wine 2021 Clubhouse Marathon on wine fraud, authentication and Chai Consulting.

Chasing Counterfeits w/ Maureen Downey, Chai Consulting

XChateau Wine Podcast · Robert Vernick & Peter Yeung (hosts) · January 13, 2021

Downey talks about learning about fakes from Hardy Rodenstock's questions, her role in the Kurniawan case, today's counterfeits and authenticating bottles with the Chai Vault.

Ep. 268 Maureen Downey (Chai Consulting) on Combating Wine Fraud

Italian Wine Podcast · Monty Waldin (host) · February 3, 2020

Downey tells Monty Waldin why she began representing collectors hit by fraudulent bottles, how she has assisted the FBI and Department of Justice, and how technology, observation and logic expose fakes.

Wine Scandals, Fakes and Forgery with Maureen Downey

Unreserved Wine Talk (podcast) · Natalie MacLean (host) · June 19, 2019

Downey shares how to spot a fake from its label, how pervasive counterfeiting is, how blockchain can trace a bottle's provenance and how buyers can avoid wine fraud.

Distillery Nation Podcast #34 – The Investigator

Distillery Nation Podcast · Ilias Mastrogiannis (host) · March 30, 2018

Distillery Nation talks with Downey about counterfeit spirits, blockchain and how to look beyond the label of a bottle.

Wine crime

RNZ This Way Up · Simon Morton (host) · July 25, 2015

Radio segment on wine fraud and theft-to-order from restaurants, featuring Downey, whom the FBI enlisted after a string of US thefts.

The Unexplained with William Shatner · Coming soon

Wine, Women and Fraud

CNBC — American Greed · Scott Cohn (American Greed Report companion) · August 7, 2017

American Greed episode on John Fox’s Premier Cru pre-arrival wine Ponzi scheme; Downey warns buyers to research merchants before paying for futures or phantom wine.

'Vintage' Wine Fraud

CNBC — American Greed · Scott Cohn (American Greed Report companion) · July 24, 2015

American Greed episode on Rudy Kurniawan’s auction-house wine fraud; Downey recounts early red flags and how Kurniawan’s materials both fooled and failed scrutiny.

How to Know If Your Expensive Wine Is Fake

Bloomberg · Jennafer Savino & Amy Marino · May 21, 2015

Bloomberg video in which ‘the Sherlock Holmes of Wine’ walks through label, ink, printing and cork tells used to spot expensive fakes.

What's Really Being Poured Into Your Wine Glass? / What Makes a Billionaire Cry? Bill Koch Duped by Wine Fakes

ABC News — 20/20 · Megan Chuchmach & Brian Ross · June 13, 2014

20/20 segment on Bill Koch’s fake-wine losses and Kurniawan’s kitchen factory; Downey describes the Arcadia house as a ‘counterfeiting house of horrors.’

Counterfeit wine: A vintage crime (The shadowy world of counterfeit wines)

CBS Sunday Morning · December 22, 2013

CBS Sunday Morning investigation into counterfeit fine wine featuring Downey examining a purported 1961 Lafite whose cork digits show a reinserted 1964.

Mistakes Doomed Wine Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan

CBS New York (CBS 2) · Tony Aiello · December 19, 2013

Local CBS 2 New York piece after Kurniawan’s conviction; Downey documents the deception on camera and calls him a ‘mad scientist’ blender of fakes.

Counterfeit Wine?

Inside Edition · Lisa Guerrero · November 9, 2012

Inside Edition investigation into fake Bordeaux and Kurniawan’s ring; Downey, ‘one of the leading wine sleuths,’ calls the fakery ‘very brazen’ and rejects a $3,400 ‘1953’ Pétrus as worthless.

Formosa TV broadcast (Taipei)

Formosa TV (民視) · November 2019

Television broadcast in Taipei listed on Downey’s professional CV; no public Formosa TV episode title or archived clip located.

Wine fraud eroding value of liquid assets

CNN · Maggie Lake · November 13, 2015

CNN package on how counterfeiting makes investors rethink wine as a liquid asset; matches the November 2015 CNN credit on Downey’s CV, though the public page does not name her.

Crime Inc.: The War on Counterfeit Goods

CNBC — Crime Inc. · Carl Quintanilla (correspondent) · August 16, 2012

CNBC Crime Inc. episode on counterfeit goods including high-priced wine; Downey was filmed for the series after Kurniawan’s indictment (SF Weekly, Food & Wine Mavens, BU Today).

The Wine Con

ABC News — The Con · March 24, 2021

ABC’s The Con episode on Rudy Kurniawan’s rare-wine scam; Downey’s CV lists her March 24, 2021 ABC News appearance for this broadcast.

Sherry-Lehmann Wine Suit Against Reporter Dismissed

Hoodline · September 30, 2026

A federal court threw out Sherry-Lehmann's smear-campaign lawsuit against the Times reporter who covered the retailer.

Wine Forger Who Duped Hollywood Producers and California Billionaires Strikes Back

LAmag · Michele McPhee · March 16, 2024

Rudy Kurniawan, out of federal prison, leans into his 'outlaw celebrity' status in the wine business.

Prominent Wine Dealer Rudy Kurniawan Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

FBI New York · August 7, 2014

The federal sentencing of Kurniawan for selling millions of dollars of Counterfeit wine.

The Jefferson Bottles

The New Yorker · Patrick Radden Keefe · September 3, 2007

How the "Jefferson" Lafite bottles sold by Hardy Rodenstock unraveled under Bill Koch's investigation.

Food Crime Update

Food Standards Agency blog · October 19, 2026

The FSA National Food Crime Unit's latest update on food and drink crime enforcement.

Stephen Burton jailed over $175m wine Ponzi scheme

B2B News · October 16, 2026

Bordeaux Cellars dressed up bottles as a secured loan book; its founder is now in jail.

Man arrested over suspected £500,000 Counterfeit wine sale

The Drinks Business · James Bayley · September 2, 2026

The FSA arrested a man after 55 suspect bottles were sold for more than £500,000; cites Maureen Downey on counterfeiters' printing technology.

NFCU operation leads to arrest over suspected £500,000 of Counterfeit wine

GOV.UK · Food Standards Agency · August 2026

Official FSA announcement of the National Food Crime Unit arrest in Essex.

French authorities seized €1.8 million in assets in an alleged Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine fraud

Vinetur · October 21, 2026

An Occitanie producer allegedly hid 679 hectoliters and sold the wine under a false appellation at 14 times its value.

How a French winemaker put the world's biggest wine fraudster in jail

The Connexion · January 29, 2024

Laurent Ponsot on spotting his own wine at auction with a vintage 20 years before the domaine made it.

Wine counterfeiters busted in Italy for selling bottles of fake wine for EUR 15 000

Europol · October 15, 2024

A network refilling and relabelling bottles as top Burgundy grand crus was dismantled.

Police bust fake grand cru wine network

Decanter · October 2024

Coverage of the Italian-French operation against Counterfeit grand cru Burgundy.

Sassicaia e Brunello diventano "Loniciaya" e "Paanaamila"

la Repubblica Firenze · October 21, 2024

How Counterfeit Super Tuscans were made for resale in China.

Vini contraffatti alla fiera cinese di Chengdu

La Nazione · March 19, 2025

Four people face trial after Counterfeit premium Italian wines turned up at the Chengdu fair.

Spain dismantles fake wine network smuggling 32,000 Riojas to China

Vino Joy News · February 14, 2025

Guardia Civil Operation Epigraph targeted Counterfeit Rioja bound for China.

1 ton 120 liters of Counterfeit wine found in a house in Tekirdağ

Haberler · October 22, 2026

Gendarmerie in Malkara seized Counterfeit wine in drums, barrels and bottles from a 73-year-old man's home.

Infamous Wine Merchant Hardy Rodenstock Dies at 76

Wine Spectator · Mitch Frank · June 2018

Obituary of the German collector behind the "Jefferson bottles".

East IP secures over RMB 70 million in punitive damages for Penfolds

East IP · March 3, 2026

A major trademark infringement ruling against Counterfeit Penfolds in China.

Police Seize 4,300 Bottles in Fake Penfolds Operation

Vino Joy News · Morris Cai · November 27, 2025

Three suspects arrested in Hubei with finished and semi-finished fake Penfolds.

Four fraudsters convicted over counterfeiting Penfolds in Guangdong

Vino Joy News · January 28, 2022

Convictions in a Guangdong Counterfeit Penfolds case.

NAFDAC seizes N200m fake wine, spirits packaging in Aba market

Vanguard · October 14, 2026

Counterfeit wine and spirits packaging worth over N200 million seized from five shops.

Three arrested as NACADA seizes Counterfeit alcohol in Meru

Citizen Digital · September 30, 2026

A multi-agency crackdown uncovered thousands of bottles of suspected Counterfeit spirits.

Wine Fraud Expert Maureen Downey Will Host Seminar in S'pore This Weekend

The Wine Chronicle · Staff Reporter · March 9, 2026

Previews Downey's Singapore seminars, held 14–16 March, on fraud in fine wine and whisky, organised by Chai Consulting.

Experts to host wine and whisky fraud seminars in Singapore

The Drinks Business · Amelie Maurice-Jones · March 6, 2026

Announces wine and whisky fraud seminars in Singapore led by Downey with Siobhan Turner MW and spirits specialist Isabel Graham-Yooll.

'Sherlock Holmes of Wine' to offer first-ever wine authentication certifications in Hong Kong

Vino Joy News · Natalie Wang · October 26, 2023

Downey, the 'Sherlock Holmes of Wine', is to offer Hong Kong's first wine authentication certifications through a professional workshop.

'Sherlock Holmes of Wine' returns to HK amid counterfeit concerns

Vino Joy News · Natalie Wang · September 15, 2023

Announces Downey's return to Hong Kong for wine authentication seminars amid renewed counterfeit concerns in the Asian market.

Maureen Downey to host wine authentication workshops in HK

The Drinks Business · August 31, 2017

Natalie Wang reports Downey’s October 2017 Grand Hyatt Hong Kong return for fraud presentations and Level I–II training after warning that fakes were flooding HK faster than at the height of Kurniawan.

Downey to host authentication workshops in HK and London

The Drinks Business · September 15, 2016

Announces Chai Consulting/WineFraud Level I–II authentication training at Hong Kong’s Grand Hyatt (Feb 2017) and 67 Pall Mall London, plus a Fine Wine Authentication Clinic for collectors.

WineFraud.com launches as the first of its kind

Packaging Strategies · September 10, 2015

Announces the launch of WineFraud.com, Downey's subscription site for education and advocacy against wine fraud, and recaps her role in the Kurniawan case.

Downey Launches Wine Fraud Website

Wine-Searcher · Wink Lorch · December 23, 2014

Announces WineFraud.com, Downey's new site to help vendors and collectors protect themselves from counterfeit wine.