top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon
Explore
arrow down

Winemaker accused of selling 1.8 million bottles of fake champagne

Carbonated gas was added to wine from Spain and the Ardèche and sold as champagne in supermarkets, claim a former and a current employee

A French winemaker and champagne house has been accused of making and selling 1.8 million bottles of fake champagne. 

Didier Chopin from the Marne (Grand Est) added other alcohol and carbonated gas to wines from outside the Champagne region and sold the final drink as champagne, according to claims from a former and a current employee.

The producer, who is said to own 22 brands of champagne, in particular used wine from the Ardèche and Spain to mix with CO2 and an unspecified alcohol spirit, they say, to make the ‘fake champagne’.

Didier Chopin denies the claims, branding them as ‘unfounded’ and ‘shameful’, reports L’Union newspaper. 

The public prosecutor’s department now plans to open an inquiry.

It is claimed that around 1.8 million of these bottles have been sold, both in France and abroad, with each selling for between €10-20. 

Bottles have been pulled from shelves in Leclerc and analysis is underway with anti-fraud officials informed. 

Reims’ public prosecutor department awaits the dossier from them before opening the inquiry. 

Read also: France set for a good wine year despite mildew

Hired by Chopin in 2021, Ludivine Jeanmingin, one of the sources of the claims, told France Bleu that after the banks decided to no longer support the business in April 2022, everything changed. 

Ms Jeanmingin said that in June 2022, the winemaker told her he had won a contract for 800,000 bottles of sparkling wine. 

However, soon the yellow bottles were swapped for green, boxes of champagne corks arrived and the drink itself changed appearance. 

The recipe changed too said Ms Jeanmingin: they began to add CO2 and an unspecified alcohol spirit, which, she notes, is illegal.

The other person who came forward remains in their job at Didier Chopin and wishes to remain anonymous, but also confirmed that the production process changed in June 2022. 

Read also: Rosé wine guide - a tour through France’s pink wine producing regions

Although Ms Jeanmingin highlighted that the change to the recipe was not dangerous to people’s health, she added that ‘the taste is not good’. 

Google reviews from customers agree, deeming the fake bottles ‘undrinkable’. 

One review reads: ‘What a catastrophe! Undrinkable. This is not champagne and it is impossible to contact the producer!’

Another said: ‘An obvious problem with quality. No bubbles, oxidised, undrinkable.’

Once the anti-fraud department has delivered the dossier to the prosecutor in Reims, the department will analyse the bottles and decide how to open the inquiry. 

Related articles

Expert advice on collecting and ageing French wine

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
Featured Help Guide
- Primarily aimed at Britons, covers pensions, rent, ISAs, shares, savings and interest - but also contains significant general information pertinent to readers of other nationalities - Overview of online declarations + step-by-step guide to the French printed forms - Includes updates given automatically after this year's site opened
Get news, views and information from France