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Downey to host authentication workshops in HK and London
Wine authentication expert, Maureen Downey and her team will hold training workshops in Hong Kong and London aimed at the trade and collectors who are determined to stamp out wine fraud.
Maureen Downey
The team will be in 67 Pall Mall in London on 30 November and 2 December and will start with Wine Fraud & The Chai Method (TCM) Wine Authentication presentation in the morning and Level I Authentication Training in the afternoon with both days following the same format.
The Level 1 training is for anyone who collects or works with fine and rare wine, providing an overview that touches on all parts of the bottle and major topics of counterfeiting and authentication, giving a greater awareness of how counterfeiters work and what to look for in a bottle.
For Hong Kong, Downey will be at the Grand Hyatt from 6-9 February 2017 and will also offer a Fine Wine Authentication Clinic on 10 February, also at the Grand Hyatt for collectors and professionals who are invited to bring their wines to be authenticated. Attendees can purchase authentications in advance at WineFraud.com and choose what type of reporting they prefer. Those with more than 24 bottles are advised to book an appointment in advance.
The timetable for Hong Kong will start in the evening of 6 February with a wine and food presentation, followed by a Champagne reception where guests can ask questions and identify counterfeit bottles. The next two days will have presentations in the morning and the Level I training in the afternoon. On 9 February, there will be an all-day Level II training which is geared towards serious wine collectors, those who need to authenticate wine as part of their jobs or who are looking to become certified TCM authenticators.
Downey, founder and owner of Chai Consulting LLC and Winefraud.com said, “I am thrilled that we are finally embarking on these Wine Fraud Presentations and Authentication Training.
“Professionals and serious collectors will be amazed to learn the severity and scope of the issues of wine fraud affecting the fine wine global community. Fortunately, we are also offering solutions. We see the much needed Authenticity Training as an essential first step in the fight against wine fraud and counterfeiting.
“This program is for those truly dedicated to helping eradicate the problem. Especially vendors who are committed to providing only vetted, authentic products to their customers who until now have not had access to this kind of training.”
In December last year, Downey was threatened with a defamation lawsuit filed against her by Dragon 8 founder, Gil Lempert-Schwarz which was subsequently dropped less than 24 hours later. the drinks business covered it in full in the following stories: