Counterfeit and Tampering Red Flags

Why Counterfeits Exist

High-value wines and spirits command prices that make counterfeiting profitable. A single fake bottle of rare Burgundy or allocated bourbon can sell for thousands of dollars.

Counterfeits range from crude fakes with obvious errors to sophisticated reproductions that require expert examination to detect. Tampering, where genuine bottles are refilled with lesser contents, also occurs.

Understanding red flags helps you avoid purchasing counterfeits and ensures you can provide accurate information when selling.

Label Red Flags

Labels are often the first thing to examine. Compare labels to known authentic examples. Look for inconsistencies in fonts, colors, printing quality, and alignment.

Modern high-resolution printing can reproduce labels well, but subtle differences often remain. Paper weight, texture, and aging patterns should be consistent with the bottle's stated age.

Suspiciously pristine labels on supposedly old bottles are a concern. Authentic old bottles typically show some age-appropriate wear.

• Font inconsistencies compared to known examples
• Color variations in printing
• Misaligned or crooked labels
• Wrong paper texture or weight
• Labels that look too new for the stated vintage
• Spelling errors or incorrect information

Closure and Capsule Issues

Examine closures carefully. Signs of tampering include capsules that have been cut and reapplied, mismatched or generic corks, and broken or missing tax stamps.

For wine, the capsule should sit properly on the bottle with no gaps. Look for evidence of resealing, such as misaligned capsule seams or different metal types.

For spirits, check that tax stamps and seals are intact and appropriately aged. Modern security features should be present on recent releases.

• Capsules that appear reapplied
• Cut marks or punctures in capsules
• Corks that do not match the producer's typical style
• Broken or missing tax stamps
• Seals that appear tampered with
• Closures inconsistent with release date

Packaging Inconsistencies

Original packaging should match the bottle's age and origin. Compare wood cases, boxes, and tubes to known authentic examples.

Look for mismatched lot codes, incorrect printing, or packaging that does not correspond to the bottle inside. Some counterfeits are placed in genuine old cases to add credibility.

Production codes, if present, should be consistent between bottle and packaging.

• Packaging that does not match the bottle
• Incorrect or missing production codes
• Printing quality inconsistent with producer standards
• Packaging materials wrong for the era
• Signs of repurposed or altered packaging

Provenance Concerns

Provenance gaps raise questions. Bottles that appear suddenly in large quantities with no clear origin deserve scrutiny.

Be cautious of deals that seem too good. Rare bottles offered significantly below market value often have problems.

Reputable sources matter. Bottles purchased directly from producers, established retailers, or major auction houses with authentication processes are lower risk.

• No documentation of purchase or storage
• Prices far below market value
• Seller unable to explain origin
• Large quantities of rare bottles appearing suddenly
• Unusual sales channels for high-value items

What We Do to Verify

When evaluating bottles, we examine photos for obvious issues and verify details against our database of authentic examples.

For high-value items, we conduct physical inspection including examining labels, closures, fill levels, and packaging. We compare against known authentic bottles.

If we have concerns about authenticity, we will discuss them with you. We do not purchase bottles we cannot verify.