Counterfeit Policy

Wine Auctioneer takes fraudulent wines very seriously and we continually look to combat the sale and spread of counterfeit bottles, be they refills or invented forgeries. 

Wine auctions are on the front line in combating wine counterfeiters and here at Wine Auctioneer we undertake to reject wine which we deem either questionable, problematic or obviously not authentic. 

This policy is designed to provide reassurance to our users that we take this matter incredibly seriously and are constantly working to learn and improve our knowledge in order to protect the market. 

Our staff have been trained to go through the following stages for any bottles that require additional verification: 

• Physical Check: Looking at each bottle and asking if it is genuine. Are there issues with the label? Is the packaging the expected quality? Is the fill level too high? Does the closure appear damaged or tampered with?
• Research: Comparing labels, liquid colour, fill levels, closures etc. with other examples.
• Provenance: Researching the source of the wine and gaining information on its provenance.
• Expert opinion: We will not hesitate to ask for a second opinion. We consult with other industry insiders when assessing potential fakes to ensure the highest possible level of scrutiny. 

If you think that a bottle has been listed in our auction that is not genuine, please contact us immediately.