Fake Italian Wines – Why You Need to Avoid Them and Tips for Spotting Them

The Italian wine industry is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. 

And you know what that means…

Wherever there’s a lot of money being made, there are people out there who will try and get involved. Happily, most take the legal route of learning how to make wine and setting up their own companies. But there is a criminal element out there that will do everything it can to make a quick buck. 

It’s these guys you’ve got to worry about!

They’re the people who will make fake versions of Italian wines and try to sell them as though they’re the real thing. 

In this article, we’re going to take a look at why you should try to avoid these fakes as much as possible. And we’re also going to offer a few tips that might help you to spot a forgery before you spend your hard-earned money on it.

Why You Need to Avoid the Italian Wine Fakes

So…

What’s so bad about the Italian wine fakes?

After all, you might be able to get your hands on them at a lower price that a real Italian wine. If you’re just looking for a bottle to enjoy at home, maybe they’re not such a bad choice.

Wrong!

We’re sorry if that comes across as a little harsh, but there are all sorts of reasons why you should do everything in your power to avoid the fake Italian wines.

The big issue here is what goes into them. The Italian wine industry is extremely well-regulated, with everything from the territory the wine is made in through to the specific combinations of grapes used being examined thoroughly. On top of that, real wine producers maintain extremely professional set-ups for making their wine and must abide by a host of safety standards, especially during these COVID-hit times.

The forgers?

Not so much.

Somebody who makes fake Italian wine doesn’t care about your safety. Their only concern is to make as much money as they can as quickly as they can. That means they’re not going to meet anywhere near the same safety standards as a real producer. And as for what goes in the bottle? You can never really know what sorts of chemicals or ingredients a forger might use because they’re completely unregulated. So, if for no other reason, you should avoid fake Italian wines because they offer a very real risk to your health.

On top of that, we have the moral reasons.

Real Italian wine producers pour their hearts and souls into their products. They work tirelessly to ensure that you have the very best of what they have to offer. And most of the great winemakers dedicate their entire lives to the pursuit of the perfection expression of their terroir.

When you buy an Italian wine fake, you’re taking hard-earned money out of their pockets and putting it into the pockets of criminals who don’t care about you or the wine they make. You end up funding people who might go on to use that money for other criminal enterprises in the future.

Perhaps that sounds a little preachy.

But that doesn’t make it any less true. If you knowingly buy a fake Italian wine, you’re actively damaging an industry as well as potentially damaging your own health.

And finally, we come to the investment side of the Italian wine industry.

If you’re a wine investor, you want to avoid fakes simply because they have no value. Forgers create fake versions of expensive wines solely to swindle you out of your cash. And by the time you’ve realised what’s happened, you’re left with an empty wallet and a bottle of wine that isn’t work a thing!

So, those are just some of the reasons why it’s so important to be as vigilant as possible when it comes to buying Italian wine. Now, let’s look at some of the ways you might be able to spot a fake before you buy it.

Technique #1 – Always Check the Price

Forgers use inexpensive techniques to make terrible wines. As such, they’re often not too bothered about charging the regular retail price for the bottles that they’re ripping off. In fact, they may charge much less and try to dress it up as a once-in-a-lifetime bargain.

Don’t fall for it!

Discounts and offers are part and parcel of the real Italian wine business. However, if a price tag seems like it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Check the true value of the wine and be very wary of anybody who’s trying to sell you something for a lot less.

Technique #2 – Check the Label

Remember that forgers want to make a quick buck. That means they’re not going to pour their hearts and souls into every aspect of the wine presentation like a real producer will.

This lack of care often shows up on the wine label.

Look for misspellings, smudges in the ink, and any details that you would expect the producer to include that happen to be missing. You can even jump on line and check what the real wine’s label looks like, which allows you to compare the wine you’re thinking of buying to the real thing.

Technique #3 – Only Buy From Trusted Vendors

Who you buy from is just as important as what you’re buying.

There are some vendors who are just as happy to make a quick buck as the forgers. And they’re likely to be the people who set up temporary shops or don’t seem to know a whole lot about Italian wine. Be very wary of them as they’re more likely to sell you a fake.

Instead, only buy from vendors you can trust.

Again, the web can come to your rescue here.

Look for affiliations between a vendor and the producers they work with. Examine the reviews that people leave behind and try to find any feedback that tells you the vendor sells exactly what they say they sell. If your gut tells you there’s something off about the seller, it’s almost always best to err on the side of caution.