A case of alleged fraud in wine labels of the DO Valdepeñas is being investigated and has already National Court. The complaints were presented by the main agricultural organizations in the region because some bottles could be read Reserve or Grand Reserve but they were not barrel aged. This is how the Ciudad Real Prosecutor's Office before deciding to send the proceedings carried out to the central court in Madrid. Now we will proceed to complete what was found in a case that affects three wineries attached to the Designation of Origin. We tell you more about this matter here.
Sanctioning file against three companies
On February 19, Cadena Ser reported that the Ministry of Agriculture had opened a disciplinary proceedings against Bodegas Vinartis, Asevivaldepeñas and Bodegas Navarro López. The three companies covered by the DO were pointed out by a alleged fraud in Valdepeñas wine labels. Of course, the initial complaint had started from Asaja, COAG, UPA and the Food Cooperatives of Castilla-La Mancha. As these groups described, mistakes were being made in the labeling of products already on the market. Something that the council had to investigate then, since we remember: the regulatory councils cannot inspect or sanction. They are only in charge of guaranteeing the traceability of the products, while the other responsibilities are of the Regional Administration.
We will see how this possible fraud that the Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Martínez Arroyo. "It is cataloged in a way and the content of the bottle does not respond to what is being displayed to consumers," he explained clearly before warning of the control that would be carried out from his counseling. In the event that the suspicions are later confirmed, the penalty could reach a maximum of 500.000 euros for each of the wineries involved.
The president of the DO speaks of the alleged fraud in Valdepeñas wine labels
John Martin, President of the DO Valdepenas, expressed on February 21 to the Cadena Ser his view of the case: "If there is a labeling fraud, face the consequences." Although he also recalled that there is "the presumption of innocence and the wineries can present allegations." In this sense, since they received the sanctioning file, the three have 90 days to do so. Later, it will be the Board of Castilla la Mancha the one that processes the final report in the next 45 days. Therefore, no more light will be shed on this alleged fraud in Valdepeñas wine labels.
