Anyone with an eye for detail and French culture would have noticed the spelling errors and fictitious brand names on the fancy champagne labels, but even French drinkers were deceived. French custom officials — tipped off by elusive accent mistakes like “Rèserve” instead of “Reserve” — seized 2,000 champagne bottles resulting in an investigation by police in Italy and France.
“The ‘Raymond Vadim’ selection was an apparent mix up with Roger Vadim, the famous film director-producer and ex-husband of Brigitte Bardot,” says the Telegraph’s Henry Samuel. “The ‘Charles Debussy’ range appeared to be a misguided attempt to add a touch of class with the name of the 19th century impressionist French composer, Claude. The ‘Henri Flaubert’ selection refers to the famed French author of Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert.”
“This [Raymond Vadim Brut Reserve Champagne for £32.50 a bottle] has been our house champagne until now, but we are printing a new wine list this month and I’m not sure we have any left in stock,” said Adrian Abbey, a purchasing director. “This is coming from a very trusted supplier in the UK. I’m horrified if it is fake and am checking it out with them now.”
“These workshops that were apparently linked to organised crime ‘dressed up’ bottles of sparkling Italian wine with false labels that were sold onto large European markets ” Great Britain, Germany and the Benelux countries, but also France,” said Jean-Luc Barbier, general director of the champagne wine board, the CIVC, in Epernay.