Australia's wine exports are worth almost $2.5 billion a year and China is the nation's fastest growing market.

As reported a few days ago, an Australian winery owner, Emanuel Skorpos discovered his wines had been counterfeited in China. He not only found bogus bottles of his own Flinder Run label, but also of several other Aussie brands, following a tip-off. A Hong Kong legal consultancy called Wine Protection Group alerted him to the problem, according to Mr. Skorpos.

Like other Aussie winemakers, Mr. Skorpos concerns that poor quality rip-offs could have a damaging effect on the burgeoning industry.

"The problem we're facing as an industry is that if we leave a bitter taste in the Chinese consumer's mouth at such an early stage in our business into China, it could quickly destroy our industry," he said.

According to Asussie news report, it is not the first time Australian wine has been ripped off.

The Chinese government has set about legal actions of bringing down the bogus. Recently parent company of Penfolds, the Foster’s, has been moving in to shut down the counterfeiting activity with the help of the Chinese government.

However, smaller producers feel powerless to stem the problem, according to what Mr. Skorpos said.

Wine and Brandy Corporation spokesman Steve Guy says he wants to see more hard evidence of counterfeit activities in the Flinders Run case before taking action.

But wine writer Peter Simic believes Australia should be taking a tougher stance to protect its industry's reputation.

"This shouldn't be allowed to disappear or go away because it is the thin end of the wedge," he said.

"We need to put a bit of money into some legal advice and perhaps actually take a few of the producers to court so that those who do these kind of things maybe realise there's a consequence."

Source: ABC News

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