30,000 bottles of fake wine seized in Taiwan

Taiwanese authorities have seized 30,000 bottles of wine from an importer in New Taipei, which are thought to be bulk wine rebranded as top Bordeaux.

New Taipei

As reported by The China Post, Taiwan’s Investigation Bureau estimates that the counterfeit wines have netted the company a profit of £2.1m over the past five years.

The bureau received a tip that Tequila Development was importing large quantities of bulk red wines from Spain and Chile and passing it off as French.

The company, which was founded in 1989, rebottled the wine in Taiwan using fake labels of top French châteaux. It is believed that the company has sold around 440,000 bottles of the counterfeit wine since 2010.

On 19 March, prosecutors searched Tequila Development’s facilities in New Taipei and Changhua county, seizing over 30,000 bottles of counterfeit wines. At the same time, they questioned the company’s CEO, Ted Lin, who has been released on bail. He denies all charges.

According to the Wine Spectator, in order to appear legitimate, the company also ordered premium wines from France, using its printing facility to replicate the labels.

One of the companies allegedly targeted by the fraudsters was Bordeaux négociant Maison Bouey.