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Italian wine under investigation for diluting expensive wines with mediocre grapes

Published:  05 February, 2019

At least 50 Italian organisations related to wine production, including vineyards and bottling companies, are reported to be under investigation for diluting expensive wines with mediocre grapes.

The investigation is the result of a sting operation carried out this week across a dozen Italian wine producing regions, which is reported to have exposed companies for using classifications, such as DOC and DOP, but not following the strict guidelines relating to those.

The companies reported to be under investigation include prestigious wines from Pordenone, Udine, Treviso, Venice, Padova, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Ravenna, Florence, Livorno, Naples and several cities in Puglia.

Not only targeting winemakers, the investigation is also believed to be targeting the inspectors that allowed the ‘fake’ wine to receive classifications they were not entitled to.

The prosecution has not yet released a full list of brands involved, but is expected to do so later this week as search warrants are served and further inspections carried out.

The falsely labelled wine is believed to have been primarily exported, with the wine made with better quality grapes reported to have been left in the country.

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