Wine fraud 'is a mostly European affair'
As fine wine collecting can be an expensive business, buyers will naturally want to be reassured that their purchases are genuine - which is why one journalist has offered advice on spotting the fakes.
Writing in the Napa Valley Register, Dan Berger said most reputable branded wines, such as chateau Palmer, will have a branded cork.
Wine fraud is less common than reports may lead people to think, he added, but there have been notable examples - such as the Burgundian producer who bottled wines of different quality levels with the same label, or the Austrian anti-freeze scandal.
Interestingly, Mr Berger notes that despite the growing US wine trade, all major scandals to date have been based in Europe, which has a complex network of rules regarding how long Barolo must be aged or how much fruit may grow on a Margaux vine.
Wine fraud came under the spotlight in the UK in April, when it was revealed that Surplus Wines UK had swindled buyers out of their money after offering "huge savings" on fine wines and Champagnes.