The French police have uncovered one of the largest cases of wine fraud and counterfeiting. According to investigators, around 66.5 million fake bottles are said to have been circulated. The case concerns the massive abuse of the regional designations "Côtes du Rhône AOC" and "Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP". Raphaël Michel, the cask wine marketer, is accused. His CEO was already taken into custody at the beginning of 2017. French authorities have now calculated on the basis of the proceedings that between 2013 and 2016 about 15 per cent of the wine sold each year is said to have been counterfeit.
For example, about 50 million litres of Raphaël Michel's cheap wine have been sold as "Côtes du Rhône AOC" and about 10,000 litres as "Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP". Wines with a maximum value of around five euros are said to have been sold as high-quality bottles for more than 50 euros.
In addition to the criminal charges of fraud, the Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape winegrowers' associations have now also filed civil lawsuits against the former Raphaël Michel managing director.
(uka)