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New & Noteworthy
Spring Cleans the House — Fall Organizes the Cellar
Fall is when wine collections fall apart.
Every shipment held for summer heat arrives at once, gets put away in a hurry (or not at all), and a once-organized cellar becomes a jumble. Then come the duplicate purchases and the bottles that quietly slip past their prime.
I wrote up the four things I tell every collector to do this time of year, and they apply just as much to the estate managers and family office teams who keep those cellars running.
1843 · Coming soon
Forthcoming feature in 1843, The Economist’s long-form magazine. Details to follow.
Award-winning episode
Ep 343: Maureen Downey, Chai Consulting, Wine2Wine 2019 Series (2 of 8)
Lawrence Francis's podcast, Interpreting Wine, won the 2019 Best Interview Award at the Born Digital Wine Awards. The award-winning episode, Episode 343, featured prominent wine fraud and authentication expert Maureen Downey of Chai Consulting, recorded during the Wine2Wine 2019 conference.
Wine Fraud and Wine Scams
The hosts turn to Downey, 'the Sherlock Holmes of Wine', to learn how wine fraud works and how buyers can protect themselves, including the Kurniawan saga.
Sour Grapes
Crime documentary on Rudy Kurniawan’s wine fraud in which Downey appears as herself, a wine consultant who helped advise the FBI investigation.
The Authenticator
A Wine Spectator profile of Downey as 'the authenticator' of rare wine.
A nose for crime: counterfeit wines
Jancis Robinson profiles Downey's path into wine, her cellar-management business and her lonely, outspoken crusade against counterfeit wine.
Cons and the Connoisseur
Cover feature in BU's alumni magazine profiling Downey as a wine sleuth and collection manager—her path from SHA'94 to Chai Consulting, authentication work, and life among rare bottles.
Top 50 most powerful women in wine: 50 - 41
Ranks Downey No. 43 among the 50 most powerful women in wine, citing her authentication expertise and her role during the Kurniawan trial.
Cellar Management
Spring Cleans the House — Fall Organizes the Cellar
Fall is when wine collections fall apart.
Every shipment held for summer heat arrives at once, gets put away in a hurry (or not at all), and a once-organized cellar becomes a jumble. Then come the duplicate purchases and the bottles that quietly slip past their prime.
I wrote up the four things I tell every collector to do this time of year, and they apply just as much to the estate managers and family office teams who keep those cellars running.
Wine cellar advice for collectors
Advice for collectors on building and managing a cellar. Downey, of Chai Consulting, estimates the size of the collector market and warns that a cellar becomes unmanageable once you lose track of what is in it.
The American Greed Report: In the market for fine wine? Don't get burned
An American Greed guide to buying fine wine safely. Downey urges buyers to research merchants before paying for futures or pre-arrival wine, and explains how a seller's reaction to questions can be telling.
An Expert's Guide to Wine Investment
Downey's own column on wine as an investment. She explains which wines are truly investment-grade and how to buy and hold them so they keep their value.
A Guide to Refining Your Wine Collection
Downey's column comparing ways to sell or thin out a cellar: auction houses, resellers and charitable donation, with the pros and cons of each.
Safe Storage For Fine Wines
Downey's column with cautionary tales from the cellar. She shows how heat, vibration and poor security can make even the finest bottles worthless.
What's In Your Cellar? Counterfeit Wines Are A Multi-Billion Dollar Problem
A sit-down interview with Downey on how wine fraud became a billion-dollar problem, how counterfeiters work and how collectors can protect themselves.
Old and Rare Wines For the Masses
The first of Downey's regular columns, examining how Kurniawan allegedly hoodwinked buyers with fake old and rare wines.
Print & Digital
In Wine Country, Sales Are Down and Fraud Is Rampant
Maureen Downey, an expert on wine fraud and the founder of Chai Consulting, blames the proliferation of wine crime on the industry's murky supply chain and opaque secondary market.
Wine Fraud Expert Maureen Downey Will Host Seminar in S'pore This Weekend
Previews Downey's Singapore seminars, held 14–16 March, on fraud in fine wine and whisky, organised by Chai Consulting.
Experts to host wine and whisky fraud seminars in Singapore
Announces wine and whisky fraud seminars in Singapore led by Downey with Siobhan Turner MW and spirits specialist Isabel Graham-Yooll.
Cracking down on fraud: Using tech to battle counterfeit wine
A feature on technology against counterfeit wine. Downey argues the problem is bigger than anyone realises and makes the case for her blockchain-backed Chai Vault approach to provenance.
Yellow Tail wine fraud 'limited to indie retailers', says group MD
Casella's UK managing director responds to Downey's warning that criminal gangs are faking Yellow Tail. He says the problem is limited to independent retailers.
Gangs spend £500,000 faking wine bottles and labels
Reports Downey's Wine Blast podcast claim that Asian and European crime groups spent up to £500,000 copying Yellow Tail bottles and labels, and explains why fakes of everyday brands are harder to pull off.
Yellow Tail owner reassures shoppers over counterfeit bottles
Casella Family Brands reassures convenience retailers after Downey said organised criminals were making high-end Yellow Tail counterfeits. It says the issue dates from 2019 and is largely resolved.
Whisky & True Crime Story (EN)
An article on counterfeit spirits citing Downey's view that conflict zones such as Syria are major sources of fakes, and her story of a 'premium' gin that froze in a hotel fridge.
Aventuras, técnicas e desafios da “Sherlock Homes” dos vinhos falsificados
A Portuguese-language profile of the 'Sherlock Holmes' of counterfeit wine, covering her techniques and her view that Brazil is a perfect market for fraudsters.
How expert wine fraud detector Maureen Downey uncovers counterfeiters and is using blockchain to simplify authentication
A profile of Downey's work helping US law enforcement crack wine-fraud cases, from Rodenstock and Kurniawan to using blockchain to simplify authentication.
Can machines taste wine?
Jancis Robinson quotes Downey of Chai Consulting dismissing AI ‘noses’ for fraud detection that cannot distinguish neighbouring Burgundy sites such as DRC Romanée-Conti from de Montille Malconsorts.
Genuine forgeries as Kurniawan returns
Reports on Kurniawan's return to wine as a hired forger at Singapore dinners. It cites Downey's WineFraud.com findings that most guests preferred his copies.
Maureen Downey: 'Wine counterfeits will continue to be a problem'
Covers Downey's masterclass at 67 Pall Mall Singapore on counterfeits, NFTs and Kurniawan. She argues fakes will persist until the supply chain gets real oversight.
Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan is back in the wine business
Downey uncovered at least two 2023 parties where Kurniawan was reportedly paid to make fake versions of top wines such as 1990 DRC Romanée-Conti and Petrus.
Rudy Back in the Fake Wine Game
Downey reveals photos and tasting notes from a Singapore dinner where guests paid Kurniawan to make fakes. She comments that 'people like to hang out with gangsters.'
'Sherlock Holmes of Wine' to offer first-ever wine authentication certifications in Hong Kong
Downey, the 'Sherlock Holmes of Wine', is to offer Hong Kong's first wine authentication certifications through a professional workshop.
'Sherlock Holmes of Wine' returns to HK amid counterfeit concerns
Announces Downey's return to Hong Kong for wine authentication seminars amid renewed counterfeit concerns in the Asian market.
How the industry is tackling fake alcohol
On the Fraud Advisory Panel's alcohol-fraud report, to which Downey contributed. She warns that fakes and swapped bottles reach supermarkets too.
Wine crime is soaring but a new generation of tech savvy detectives is on the case
A feature on rising wine crime and a new generation of tech-savvy detectives. It names Downey as a key Kurniawan investigator and 'the godmother of the wine-authentication business'.
Contraffazione, un “furto” da 15 miliardi di dollari all’anno al mercato dei fine wines
Coverage of Downey’s Wine2Wine Verona talk on industrial-scale counterfeiting, Yellow Tail-style volume fakes, layered anti-fraud tech, and Italian DOCG seals among forged elements.
Winemakers Use Ultraviolet Ink and Microprinting to Deter Scammers
On how wineries use UV ink, microprinting and security tags against fakes. Downey calls counterfeiting 'a plague that is not going away' and her Chai Vault is presented as a leading anti-fraud option.
US deports Wine Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan to Indonesia
Reports Kurniawan's deportation to Indonesia. It recalls Downey telling the author in 2018 that his distributors were waiting for his release and that the 'big fish' was never caught.
Beyond High-Profile Scandals, Wine Fraud Is Rampant
Wine fraud reaches well beyond headline scandals. Downey explains how the pandemic disrupted preventive checks and gives her multi-billion-dollar estimate of the fake wine market.
King of Wine Fraud Facing Freedom
As Kurniawan nears release from prison, Downey notes he never apologised or named accomplices, and says she believes 'he's got hush money waiting for him.'
Business Today 今周刊 — Maureen Downey Taipei visit
Taiwanese print coverage of Downey’s Taipei visit and work on wine authentication and fraud.
Wine Vault Opens the Fight on Fakes
Covers the launch of Downey's Chai Vault protocol, which lets buyers check a wine or spirit bottle's authenticity and provenance online before purchase.
What's In Your Cellar? Counterfeit Wines Are A Multi-Billion Dollar Problem
A sit-down interview with Downey on how wine fraud became a billion-dollar problem, how counterfeiters work and how collectors can protect themselves.
How Will Blockchain Technology Change Wine?
Interview with Downey on how blockchain could secure the authenticity and provenance of fine wine, and on the thinking behind her Chai Vault.
A Counterfeit Expert's Solution for Eliminating Fake Wines
Profiles Downey's career catching fakes and putting counterfeiters like Kurniawan in jail, and how she came to build a blockchain ledger for bottle provenance.
Outlook: Cracking a $30m Case of Wine Fraud
A BBC World Service Outlook radio profile of how 'wine detective' Downey helped uncover a multi-million-dollar counterfeiting operation.
The Bottle and the Blockchain: Securing Authenticity and Proving Provenance in a Global Wine Market
Downey's own article on securing authenticity and proving provenance in the global wine market. It covers counterfeit detection, training and blockchain-based tracking.
Maureen Downey to host wine authentication workshops in HK
Natalie Wang reports Downey’s October 2017 Grand Hyatt Hong Kong return for fraud presentations and Level I–II training after warning that fakes were flooding HK faster than at the height of Kurniawan.
Wine authentication … fake and fraudulent wines ….
Steen Öhman’s first-hand report on Downey’s May 2017 London authentication training at 67 Pall Mall, including hands-on detection of a fake 1966 Lafite magnum brought by a participant.
Ein Tag mit Maureen Downey (DER WEINVERSTAND BRIEF No. 1/2017)
German newsletter feature: a day in Downey’s London seminar—$3bn fake-market estimate, Haut-Brion 1988 counterfeit case study, and why Europe as well as Asia is a counterfeiting hub.
Maureen Downey's Wine Fraud Presentation: May 3rd - 5th 2017
Jim Budd’s account of Downey’s fraud presentation at 67 Pall Mall with Siobhan Turner, covering the $3bn fake-fine-wine estimate and methodical bottle checks.
Fighting fraud: knowledge is power
Report on Downey's first wine-fraud and authentication classes for professionals and collectors in London, and why knowledge is the main defence against fakes.
Classic wine, trusted wine
Andrew Jefford’s Asia-facing column on trust and counterfeits in China names Downey’s winefraud.com work and Chai Wine Vault as groundwork for authenticating secondary-market wine.
Is Hong Kong awash with fake wines? We seek expert knowledge
Downey warns that Hong Kong has become a dumping ground for fake wines and shares tips for telling a fake Bordeaux or Champagne from the real thing.
Bitter tasting: wine fraud
A Fraud Magazine look at wine counterfeiting for fraud examiners. It cites Downey's point that a counterfeit wine cannot be detected by taste.
Fake Wine Is A Billion Dollar Market And Here Are The Ways To Identify Them
Jeannie Cho Lee reports on Downey's Hong Kong authentication class: her roughly $3 billion estimate of the fake wine market and the main types of fakes and how to spot them.
Fine wine fakers targeting Asian collectors
At a Hong Kong seminar, Downey warns that counterfeiters are deliberately targeting Asian collectors with fakes made in Europe.
How To Avoid Buying Fake Wine
Downey explains how widespread fake wine is, from mislabelled bulk wine to Lafite, saying 20% 'is probably conservative', and gives buyers practical precautions.
How to spot a fake wine: 10 signs to look for
Decanter China’s guide from a Downey/Chai Consulting masterclass: unicorn bottles, ultrawhite labels, print tells, capsules, corks, glass and sediment—framed for Asia readers, with Chinese translation.
How to spot a fake wine: 10 signs to look for
Laura Seal’s Decanter guide from Downey and Siobhan Turner’s masterclass: ten forensic tells for spotting counterfeit fine wine, from unicorn formats to sediment.
Jefford on Monday: Classic wine, trusted wine
Andrew Jefford on trust, Chinese counterfeit risk, and Downey’s winefraud.com / Chai Wine Vault work as a response in the secondary market.
'Sour Grapes': Film Review
Review of the documentary Sour Grapes, which names Downey among the key figures and notes that she raised early suspicions about Kurniawan's sales.
Haul of fake Scotch hints at wider world of counterfeits
On fake Scotch pulled from auction. It draws a parallel with Downey's claim that millions of dollars of Kurniawan fakes are still circulating.
How much fake fine wine is in the market?
At a London masterclass Downey puts the value of fake fine wine at about $3 billion and warns that fakes now reach beyond classic Bordeaux and Burgundy.
New system claims best protection yet against wine fraud
Downey prepares to launch a new anti-fraud system. She argues single-layer tech like RFID chips fails and expects certified bottles to be worth 20–40% more.
Downey to host authentication workshops in HK and London
Announces Chai Consulting/WineFraud Level I–II authentication training at Hong Kong’s Grand Hyatt (Feb 2017) and 67 Pall Mall London, plus a Fine Wine Authentication Clinic for collectors.
Sour Grapes, a wine fraud documentary coming to Netflix
Previews the Sour Grapes documentary coming to Netflix and lists Downey among the film's wine-fraud detectives.
'Sour Grapes' Review
Variety's review of Sour Grapes quotes Downey on the male-dominated world of high-end collectors and lists her among the film's subjects.
The Authenticator
A Wine Spectator profile of Downey as 'the authenticator' of rare wine.
»Kein Mensch erkennt das am Geschmack«
German magazine interview with Downey on Kurniawan, Rodenstock, why taste cannot authenticate old wine, WineFraud.com, and advice for collectors; notes fakes still circulating in London, Stockholm and Hong Kong.
Fraud, Counterfeit, and the Sommelier
A long GuildSomm interview with Downey on how deep wine fraud goes, where sommeliers fit in, how she first spotted fakes at auction, and the French Laundry theft.
Sip On This: That $10,000 (Or $30) Bottle Of Wine Might Be Fake
Downey describes Kurniawan's home as 'a wine counterfeiting factory' and explains why fake wine is hard to detect.
WineFraud.com launches as the first of its kind
Announces the launch of WineFraud.com, Downey's subscription site for education and advocacy against wine fraud, and recaps her role in the Kurniawan case.
The Greed Report: 'In Wine There is Truth—and Scams! Don't Get Bamboozled by Bogus Bordeaux'
An American Greed piece on wine scams. Downey explains how Kurniawan used good materials and gives tips for avoiding bogus Bordeaux.
Watch How an Expert Spots Fraudulent Wine
Smithsonian highlights Bloomberg's video of 'the Sherlock Holmes of Wine' examining bottles, explaining how Downey checks labels, capsules and corks for signs of fraud.
The 'Sherlock Holmes' of Wine Shows You How to Spot a Fake
Eater shares the Bloomberg video in which Downey shows what she looks for when spotting an expensive fake.
Watch Wine Fraud: How to Know If Your Expensive Wine Is Fake
Bloomberg video in which Downey demonstrates how to tell whether an expensive bottle is fake.
How to avoid buying fake bottles of wine
Elin McCoy's guide to avoiding fake bottles. It notes that Downey, who helped the FBI bring down Kurniawan, was launching a website to teach collectors to spot fakes.
French Laundry Wine Turns Up in North Carolina
Wine stolen from the French Laundry turns up in North Carolina. Downey, whom the FBI asked for help, suggests the bottles were stolen to order and passed through layers of brokers.
Downey Launches Wine Fraud Website
Announces WineFraud.com, Downey's new site to help vendors and collectors protect themselves from counterfeit wine.
Expert Collectible Collectibles December 2014
Robb Report's Expert Eye column notes that much of the evidence against Kurniawan came from Downey, who says 'nobody can taste for authenticity.'
A word about fakes: Maureen Downey
A Q&A after Kurniawan's sentencing. Downey speaks out on fakes and on whether producers are doing enough, and lists the bottles she most often sees faked.
The big fake fall out
On the market fallout from the Kurniawan case. Downey estimates he sold around US$100 million of wine between 2002 and 2013.
Il Sassicaia, il Brunello di Montalcino Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera ed il Barolo di Bruno Giacosa: ecco, nell'ordine i vini italiani più contraffatti nel mondo
Italian report citing Downey's list of the most-counterfeited Italian wines: Sassicaia, Soldera's Case Basse Brunello and Bruno Giacosa Barolo.
10 Years "Just About Right" for Wine Fraudster Rudy
Reactions to Kurniawan's 10-year sentence. Downey, who spent years working against him, calls it 'just about right'.
Wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan sentenced to 10 years in prison
Decanter reports Kurniawan's 10-year sentence, quoting Downey, who inspected his wines for several clients, on how people were 'robbed of the joy' of old and rare wine.
A nose for crime: counterfeit wines
Jancis Robinson profiles Downey's path into wine, her cellar-management business and her lonely, outspoken crusade against counterfeit wine.
How Atomic Particles Helped Solve A Wine Fraud Mystery
An NPR story on how atomic-particle dating helped expose fakes. It features Downey's forensic toolkit, the history of wine fraud and Kurniawan's 'recipes'.
The Decanter interview: Maureen Downey
An in-depth Decanter interview with 'fine wine's answer to Sherlock Holmes' on her self-taught skills, raising the alarm on Kurniawan and her authentication work.
The Proust Q&A: Maureen Downey
A personal Proust-style Q&A with Downey, introduced as a leading fine-wine authentication expert and founder of Chai Consulting.
Wine Opinion: How to spot a counterfeit
Debra Meiburg MW and Sarah Heller cite Downey’s advice to ‘just keep screaming’ about counterfeits in Hong Kong, discussing Asian face culture, duty-free sourcing, and the estimated scale of fake wine.
Wine dealer accused of fraud that drove up prices worldwide
Coverage of Kurniawan's trial. Downey, who came to New York to watch it, says his fraud drove up wine prices for everyone.
Wine Dealer Who Drove Up The Price Of Wine With Counterfeit Bottles Goes To Trial
LAist's write-up of the Kurniawan trial, quoting Downey that 'every single person who drinks wine was affected by this.'
Who Are Wine Counterfeiters Fooling? (A Lot of Folks)
Downey disputes claims about how much fake wine is out there, saying it is impossible to quantify and that counterfeits are not actually on the rise.
Wine fraud lawsuit is a test of bottle for billionaire Bill Koch
On Bill Koch's lawsuit over fake wines. Downey, due to give evidence, says the most blatant fraud happened between 2004 and 2009.
Cons and the Connoisseur
Cover feature in BU's alumni magazine profiling Downey as a wine sleuth and collection manager—her path from SHA'94 to Chai Consulting, authentication work, and life among rare bottles.
Top 50 most powerful women in wine: 50 - 41
Ranks Downey No. 43 among the 50 most powerful women in wine, citing her authentication expertise and her role during the Kurniawan trial.
Counterfeit Wine?
An Inside Edition investigation into counterfeit wine in which Downey, 'one of the leading wine sleuths in the country', calls the fakery 'very brazen.'
The Wine Detective: Maureen Downey Reveals Forged Bottles
A long SF Weekly profile of 'the wine detective' showing forged bottles in her Cow Hollow office and describing her blunt style.
Old and Rare Wines For the Masses
The first of Downey's regular columns, examining how Kurniawan allegedly hoodwinked buyers with fake old and rare wines.
Ferreting Out Faux Bordeaux
A Boston University alumni profile of Downey (SHA'94) on managing rare-wine collections, spotting fakes and why wine is a viable career.
Grand Jury Indicts the Man Known As "Dr Conti"
After Kurniawan's indictment Downey says she feels vindicated after years of being told she was wrong, and argues he did not act alone.
Sniffing Out A Fake
An early Wine Spectator profile of Downey's authentication work. It notes that she never calls a bottle fake outright.
Podcasts
Award-winning episode
Ep 343: Maureen Downey, Chai Consulting, Wine2Wine 2019 Series (2 of 8)
Lawrence Francis's podcast, Interpreting Wine, won the 2019 Best Interview Award at the Born Digital Wine Awards. The award-winning episode, Episode 343, featured prominent wine fraud and authentication expert Maureen Downey of Chai Consulting, recorded during the Wine2Wine 2019 conference.
Hunting Fake Wine with Counterfeit Expert Maureen Downey
Downey describes how she broke into the fine wine trade, how she helped the FBI and Bill Koch catch Rudy Kurniawan, and how counterfeiters are using increasingly sophisticated technology.
Ep 272 - Counterfeit Wine & Wine Fraud: Could Your Wine Be Fake? With Maureen Downey
Podcast episode in which Downey explains how counterfeit wine enters the market, which wines are most often faked, how experts judge whether a bottle is genuine, and what the Kurniawan case revealed.
Uncorking Wine Fraud: Maureen Downey on Counterfeits, Crime, and Blockchain Solutions
Interview covering Downey's career, her view of convicted counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan, wider wine crime, and blockchain-based tools for proving a bottle's authenticity.
Fake Wine: A Laughing Matter? Wine Blast podcast
A Wine Blast episode on wine fraud with Downey and Simpsons co-writer Johnny LaZebnik. Downey covers illicit alcohol, organised crime and the damage fakes do to the trade.
Wine Fraud | Skeptical Sunday
A Skeptical Sunday episode on wine fraud that tells the Kurniawan story and credits Downey as one of the first experts to raise suspicions about him.
Is Your Expensive Wine Fake? Find Out Now Using Blockchain | Maureen Downey
Downey shares tips for spotting counterfeit wine, the long history of wine fraud and how blockchain technology is changing authentication.
Wine Fraud and Wine Scams
The hosts turn to Downey, 'the Sherlock Holmes of Wine', to learn how wine fraud works and how buyers can protect themselves, including the Kurniawan saga.
Episode 153: Where Is Wine Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan Now?
Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large Christina Pickard talks with Downey about the latest in the Kurniawan case and where the convicted counterfeiter is now.
Fighting Wine Crime - with Maureen Downey
Long-form interview in which Downey tells her story and talks about her ongoing fight against wine crime.
Counterfeit wine is real (real fake!). Meet the pre-eminent authority, Maureen Downey.
The first of a two-part conversation in which Downey discusses the Kurniawan case, the FBI turning to her for counsel, and counterfeiting that now reaches everyday wines such as Yellow Tail.
EP 07 – The Future of Wine Fraud with Maureen Downey
Podcast episode in which Downey looks ahead at the future of wine fraud.
Cork Talk with Maureen Downey
Tim Atkin MW interviews the ‘Sherlock Holmes of wine’ on investment, auction houses, provenance, undercover work and the ‘six Ds’ that put cellars on the market.
Let's Talk With... Maureen Downey
Jane Anson talks with Downey about wine fraud: her path from sommelier to authenticator, how fakes are made and what collectors should watch for.
Global Wine & Spirits Fraud: Technology To The Rescue? | Maureen Downey
Downey's session from the first Future Drinks Expo in South San Francisco, on the scope of wine and spirits fraud and how well the technologies used to fight it work.
Maureen Downey – Fighting Wine Fraud One Bottle at a Time
Downey explains how wine counterfeiting, a $3+ billion industry, harms businesses, public works and unsuspecting consumers.
Maureen Downey – Wine Authenticator/Fraud Expert
Downey explains how counterfeiting hurts livelihoods, businesses and government tax revenue, and advises buyers to research sellers, ask questions and report suspected fraud.
Maureen Downey on Wine Fraud
Chris Scott talks with Downey about wine fraud and the wine authentication she provides through Chai Consulting.
Ep. 702 Chris Scott Interviews Maureen Downey | Wine2wine 2021 Clubhouse Marathon
Chris Scott (UK Wine Show) interviews Downey during the Wine2Wine 2021 Clubhouse Marathon on wine fraud, authentication and Chai Consulting.
Chasing Counterfeits w/ Maureen Downey, Chai Consulting
Downey talks about learning about fakes from Hardy Rodenstock's questions, her role in the Kurniawan case, today's counterfeits and authenticating bottles with the Chai Vault.
Ep. 268 Maureen Downey (Chai Consulting) on Combating Wine Fraud
Downey tells Monty Waldin why she began representing collectors hit by fraudulent bottles, how she has assisted the FBI and Department of Justice, and how technology, observation and logic expose fakes.
Wine Scandals, Fakes and Forgery with Maureen Downey
Downey shares how to spot a fake from its label, how pervasive counterfeiting is, how blockchain can trace a bottle's provenance and how buyers can avoid wine fraud.
Distillery Nation Podcast #34 - The Investigator
Distillery Nation talks with Downey about counterfeit spirits, blockchain and how to look beyond the label of a bottle.
Wine crime
Radio segment on wine fraud and theft-to-order from restaurants, featuring Downey, whom the FBI enlisted after a string of US thefts.
TV & Film
Sour Grapes
Crime documentary on Rudy Kurniawan’s wine fraud in which Downey appears as herself, a wine consultant who helped advise the FBI investigation.
Wine, Women and Fraud
American Greed episode on John Fox’s Premier Cru pre-arrival wine Ponzi scheme; Downey warns buyers to research merchants before paying for futures or phantom wine.
'Vintage' Wine Fraud
American Greed episode on Rudy Kurniawan’s auction-house wine fraud; Downey recounts early red flags and how Kurniawan’s materials both fooled and failed scrutiny.
How to Know If Your Expensive Wine Is Fake
Bloomberg video in which ‘the Sherlock Holmes of Wine’ walks through label, ink, printing and cork tells used to spot expensive fakes.
What's Really Being Poured Into Your Wine Glass? / What Makes a Billionaire Cry? Bill Koch Duped by Wine Fakes
20/20 segment on Bill Koch’s fake-wine losses and Kurniawan’s kitchen factory; Downey describes the Arcadia house as a ‘counterfeiting house of horrors.’
Counterfeit wine: A vintage crime (The shadowy world of counterfeit wines)
CBS Sunday Morning investigation into counterfeit fine wine featuring Downey examining a purported 1961 Lafite whose cork digits show a reinserted 1964.
Mistakes Doomed Wine Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan
Local CBS 2 New York piece after Kurniawan’s conviction; Downey documents the deception on camera and calls him a ‘mad scientist’ blender of fakes.
Counterfeit Wine?
Inside Edition investigation into fake Bordeaux and Kurniawan’s ring; Downey, ‘one of the leading wine sleuths,’ calls the fakery ‘very brazen’ and rejects a $3,400 ‘1953’ Pétrus as worthless.
Formosa TV Broadcast, Taipei, Taiwan
Television broadcast in Taipei listed on Downey’s professional CV; no public Formosa TV episode title or archived clip located.
Wine fraud eroding value of liquid assets
CNN package on how counterfeiting makes investors rethink wine as a liquid asset; matches the November 2015 CNN credit on Downey’s CV, though the public page does not name her.
Crime Inc.: The War on Counterfeit Goods
CNBC Crime Inc. episode on counterfeit goods including high-priced wine; Downey was filmed for the series after Kurniawan’s indictment (SF Weekly, Food & Wine Mavens, BU Today).
The Wine Con
ABC’s The Con episode on Rudy Kurniawan’s rare-wine scam; Downey’s CV lists her March 24, 2021 ABC News appearance for this broadcast.
The expert the world’s press calls on wine fraud is the one who manages the world’s finest cellars.
Financial Times. Wine Spectator. Forbes. The Guardian. Bloomberg. NPR. BBC. CBS. CNBC. Sour Grapes.
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“The press calls Maureen Downey about wine fraud. Collectors call her to manage their cellars.”
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