Counterfeiting & Seizures

5,000 liters of counterfeit wine seized in Italy

Italian authorities have uncovered a major case of wine counterfeiting in Rome and Messina. A German company is accused of selling fortified wines with protected designations of origin, including the well-known Zibibbo di Pantelleria, without the necessary licenses.

setembro 28, 2025

Investigators report that since 2019 at least 30,000 bottles have been placed on the market in several countries, generating profits of more than 800,000 euros. On the island of Pantelleria, officers discovered a warehouse with 5,000 liters of wine, around 1,500 liters of which had already been bottled and labeled with forged names such as Zibibbo di Pantelleria and Terre Siciliane IGT. The entire stock was confiscated and destroyed.

The public prosecutor’s office in Marsala has opened an investigation into the company owner. The case underlines the risks that counterfeiting poses to the food and beverage industry, especially products with protected geographical indications.

Source:
Südtriol News

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