Well, its now official. The twelve crafty wine fakers have gotten the French gavel and its off to prison for some and hefty fines for others. As I wrote last week, E&J Gallo was sold a ridiculous amount of fake Pinot which was passed off on the world as Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir, which was in fact anything but. After a year of investigations, the twelve culprits faced the music this week.
All in all, its thought that 18 million bottles of fake Pinot hit the market, mostly in the US. The profits were huge for the swindlers, who are estimated to have reaped a combined profit of 7 million euros (approx. $9.5 million). The odd thing? Not a single US consumer complained.
Who's in the stocks? Gallo or the fakers?
But those in the Languedoc are angry; especially the judge, who declared, “the scale of the fraud caused severe damage for the wines of Languedoc for which the United States is an important outlet.”
Fines range from approximately $2,000 to $250,000 and some will spend one month to six months in jail. The damage to the Red Bicyclette brand is pretty catastrophic and I’m curious to see Gallo’s next move. According the their website, they are “deeply disappointed.” Yeah. That’s the understatement of the year.
I hereby declare that all of our soldiers be supplied with the latest in body armor technology, lightweight night-vision goggles and Camelbak drinking systems filled with Imperial Porter.
Pausing for a moment, he met eye to plant with his prey and then, he too, breathed a quick, nervous inhalation. There was no turning back now. And after giving a quick look over the shoulder, the thief expertly wielded a pair of pruning shears, and with the skill of an assassin, quickly removed five to six cuttings from the prized victims.
Sometimes you gotta do your homework. And when it comes to beer drinking, this ain’t homework you’ll go into kicking and screaming.
First brewed in the Czech town of Pilsen in Bohemia, Pilsner is one of the most popular styles of lager beers in Germany, and in many other countries (you ever heard of Budweiser? Yep, an “American-Style Lager” which is a lighter version of the original Czech Pilsner). Classic German Pilsners are light straw to golden yellow in color with a nice dense and rich head. They are generously hopped with a spicy herbal and floral aroma and flavor with a bitter, dry finish.
