France's consumer fraud body the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCDRF) this week confirmed that almost half a million hectolitres of wine - about 66.5million bottles - was falsely sold under the Côtes du Rhône AOC label. This latest scandal affecting the French wine industry represents about 15% of annual production of the area.
The inquiry into the 2017 case found “a massive misuse of the Côtes du Rhône AOC by a significant business”, the DGCCRF said. Some of the falsely sold wine - some 10,000 litres - was passed of as the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC.
The consumer body did not name the company involved but said the CEO was being investigated for “deception and fraud”. He had been placed under legal supervision after a bail payment of €1m, and had also been “banned from operating” in his own business, the report said. Further information given to television channel France 3 said that he was a négociant from Vaucluse.
The Revue du Vin de France reports a source close to the investigation saying that, the merchant is Raphael Michel , one of the main traders of Vaucluse , who specializes in bulk wine.
It describes itself as:
“We advise our clients during vinification, cuvee production and blend creation, in order to meet consumer expectations and to deliver first-class quality. Our range encompasses wines from the Rhone Valley, Languedoc, Provence and the South West which we supply to bottlers, wholesalers, winemakers and importers.”
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