French Court Takes Action Against Winemaker for Selling counterfeit Champagne

Didier Chopin, a 56-year-old winemaker, is facing trial in France for allegedly selling counterfeit Champagne. Between 2022 and 2023, he is accused of labeling and selling hundreds of thousands of bottles of Ardèche still wine that had been injected with carbon dioxide to create bubbles, passing it off as authentic Champagne. The court in Reims heard evidence over two days in June regarding charges of fraud, misuse of appellation, and abuse of corporate assets, with a verdict expected on September 2.

Chopin’s claims of serving “about 200,000” counterfeit bottles escalated during testimony, where he later estimated the number to be between 500,000 to 600,000, with some estimates ranging as high as 1.8 million. The fraud was uncovered when a whistleblower employee reported the activities in 2023.

Witnesses revealed that Chopin’s operation involved acquiring still wines from the Ardèche region and Spain, which he then carbonated and sweetened with liqueur syrup before bottling them as Champagne in the Marne region. The case against him strengthened when former employees alerted authorities. After fleeing to Morocco, where he started a vegetable farming business, Chopin was arrested for writing bad checks and subsequently extradited to France.

Chopin attributed his actions to immense pressure from Leclerc, a prominent French grocery chain, to produce more Champagne at reduced prices. He stated that the competitive market dynamics forced him into a corner where he believed counterfeiting was his only avenue to meet demands.

The prosecution has requested a four-year prison sentence for Chopin, with three years suspended, along with fines of €100,000. His wife, also charged in the case, faces a similar sentence. They’ve also sought to permanently ban Chopin from the wine industry and to seize all counterfeit products and assets.

Additionally, Chopin faces another trial for customs violations and is under investigation for alleged sexual assault against former employees.

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