topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2270.63 -0.42
DAX 6788.8 0.59
IBEX 30 8902.1 0.60
CAC 40 3424.71 0.43
FTSE 100 5895.47 0.33
AEX 325.12 -0.06
DJIA 12891.6 0.06
Nasdaq 2927.23 0.39
FTSE MIB 16653.83 -0.09
TSX Composite 12476.77 -0.35
ASX 4357.1 -0.15
Hang seng 21010.01 -0.04
Straits Times 2981.17 -0.03
ISEQ 20 503.71 0.33
You are here: Home News French News Sixty to go on trial in wine fraud

French News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


23/04/2008Sixty to go on trial in wine fraud

The 60 winegrowers, traders and supermarket executives have been accused of adding tons of sugar to Beaujolais wine to improve the flavour of the wine.

23 April 2008

LYON - Sixty French winegrowers, traders and supermarket executives are to go on trial accused of adding hundreds of tonnes of sugar to Beaujolais wines from 2004 to 2006, officials said Tuesday.

Authorities in the Beaujolais region of eastern France opened an inquiry in December in connection with the irregular sale of 600 tonnes of supermarket sugar, thought to have been sold on to dozens of local winegrowers.

Adding sugar to wine at the start of the fermentation process is legal under France's strict winemaking regulations but only up to a certain limit, and must be clearly recorded.

Investigators claim the scale of the sugar sales in the area prove local winegrowers were using the technique to artificially improve the flavour of their wines.

"The investigation is over. It is established that a traffic took place and many of the accused have admitted the facts," said the prosecutor of Villefranche-sur-Saone, Francis Battut.

The trial will take place in the autumn, after this year's grape harvest, he said.

Accused of making irregular purchases and forgery, the defendants face fines and possible prison sentences.

The 2004 Beaujolais harvest in particular was of variable quality - with some vineyards producing musty-flavoured grapes.

[AFP / Expatica]

We invite you to contribute to this article by sending related photos or videos. You can either send them to photos@expatica.com or add them to our newly-created flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/people/expatica/. All contributed material will be credited accordingly.


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Jobs in France

IFAs / FSIs / Country Managers / Confidential Introducers

Immigration and Legal Problems

Blocked Sewer Line outside property boundary - who pays ?

Sporting Events in France

Counter Strike!

Community Noticeboard France | Expat Events

migration to belgium!

Americans in France

Expatriate Events in Paris

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Management culture in France

Management culture in France

This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes information on business hierarchy, negotiations, and etiquette.

American associations and clubs in Paris

American associations and clubs in Paris

A listing of organizations in the Paris area that cater primarily to Americans living in France. Updated April 2011.

British associations and clubs in Paris

British associations and clubs in Paris

Our handy guide to the British community in Paris, from cricket clubs to Scottish country dancing lessons to where to find a jar of Marmite.

Anglophone services in France

Anglophone services in France

Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in France, from how to open a bank account to Islamic banking and investments.