A new technology that uses smartphones to validate bottles of fine wine could be the latest weapon in the fight against fraudsters.

Charles Pillitteri, proprietor of Canadian producer Pillitteri Estates Winery, tried a number of methods before settling on a bottle-top silver bubble seal that cannot be copied, Agence France-Presse reports.

Buyers can use their smartphones to remotely authenticate a wine by scanning the data code, just as they do with other applications.

Speaking at Vinexpo in Bordeaux, Mr Pillitteri said: "It gives us authenticity, traceability, integrity and customer satisfaction."

He added: "If you break the seal, all the bubbles are broken, the seal is gone and you can't copy it."

It is just one of many, often costly, lengths that producers will go to to ensure consumers are not being scammed, although ways to protect older rare vintages without damaging or defacing the bottle are still being sought.