Fake Bordeaux bottles were Spanish plonk

Celliers Vinicoles du Blayais, a producer in northern Bordeaux face trial for passing off cheap Spanish wines as appellation controllee wines from regions in Bordeaux, including Saint-Émilion and Margaux.

According to The Times, prosecutors say the fraud generated €4 million between 2013 and 2019. The fraud began in the beginning after a poor vintage, and duped merchants into importing cheap wines from Spain, to fulfil orders.

Of the 4.6 million bottles of Spanish wine worth 1-2 €, most was sold as French table wine, worth more than the Spanish wine. But some was passed off as top village wine such as Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Saint-Julien and Margaux.