A former French winemaker, Didier Chopin, has been sentenced to prison for producing counterfeit Champagne and is now appealing the court’s decision. Chopin, aged 56 and hailing from the Aisne region, received an 18-month prison sentence with an additional 30 months suspended, alongside hefty fines for both himself (€100,000) and his company (€300,000).
The court proceedings revealed a fraudulent operation that manufactured nearly half a million bottles of fake Champagne by carbonating still wines sourced from France and Spain. This scheme reportedly spanned from 2022 to 2023, racking up losses estimated in the millions.
Chopin’s attorney has confirmed an appeal against the conviction, creating uncertainty in the case’s outcome. The Comité Champagne, a regional wine organization, supported the prosecution, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the Champagne designation globally. In response to the conviction, Charles Goemaere, managing director at Comité Champagne, labeled the events as a significant threat to the heritage of Champagne producers.
This ruling coexists with another legal case where three individuals were convicted of human trafficking related to Champagne harvest workers, with the Comité Champagne also involved in that prosecution, reinforcing their commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards such offenses.
For more information on this case, see reports from France Bleu and France 24.