Shanghai authorities recently uncovered a counterfeit white wine case. Criminals set up an illegal workshop in a rural area to produce fake white wine, which was then mixed with genuine products and sold on the market. Cases involving counterfeit white wine are rare in China, reflecting the growing popularity of white wine in the domestic market. 

On March 14, the Qingpu District People’s Procuratorate in Shanghai reported that police raided an illegal production site in a remote rural house in Qingpu on January 23, 2024, seizing counterfeit French-branded white wine and arresting suspect Yin XX and his employees. Police later apprehended the distributor, Yao XX, in a technology park in Jiading District, confiscating 486 bottles of fake wine. 

Investigations revealed that Yin XX and Yao XX conspired to produce counterfeit wine in the first half of 2022. Yin XX rented a workshop in Qingpu, purchased bottling equipment, and filled bottles with cheap white wine. He also procured branded labels and caps from Yantai, Shandong, to create the counterfeit products. Yao XX sold the fake wine on e-commerce platforms, mixing it with genuine products to lower consumers’ guard. According to their confession, the counterfeit wine was sold for about 200 yuan per bottle, with a profit margin of 60 to 70 yuan per bottle. 

This "mixed sale of genuine and fake products" is a common tactic among counterfeiters. Some fraudsters purchase small quantities of genuine wine to mix with fakes while using authentic import documents obtained during procurement to mislead consumers and reduce the risk of detection. 

Unlike past counterfeit cases involving brands like Penfolds, Lafite, or Bordeaux Grand Crus, this case stands out for targeting white wine. This shift indicates that China’s white wine market is heating up and gradually becoming a focus for counterfeiters. 

In recent years, China’s overall wine imports have declined, but the white wine market has bucked the trend. For example, imports of German bottled still wine, which is predominantly white, have steadily increased. In 2024, China’s imports of German bottled still wine reached $25.84 million, up 34.51% compared to 2020. In contrast, imports of Italian bottled still wine fell by 9.08%, while Spanish imports dropped sharply by 47.58% during the same period. 

The crisp and refreshing taste of white wine is increasingly favored by Chinese consumers, providing new opportunities for counterfeiters. Previously, we reported frequent smuggling cases of high-end Burgundy white wines in the Chinese market, further confirming the booming demand for premium white wines.