Counterfeit Jacob's Creek wines

Consumers in West Berkshire and Wokingham areas are being advised to be on their guard for counterfeit Jacob's Creek wines

The move follows bottles of the counterfeit wine being found in Reading, London, Brighton and Cardiff.

Officers from West Berkshire and Wokingham Trading Standards Service have carried out some spot checks in retail premises in the area and two premises had a bottle in possession for sale. Enquiries into the source are continuing.

The counterfeit wine is believed to originate in China. Although the content is not harmful it is reported as having a substandard taste. The good news is that there are some clear telltale signs left by the counterfeiters if labels are closely examined. These include misspelling of the name Australia with the 'a' in the middle missing along with other spelling mistakes. Another telltale sign is the taste.

Sean Murphy, Trading Standards Manager said, "This is another example of counterfeiting of a major brand. These actions damage consumer confidence and provide unfair and illegal competition for legitimate producers and retailers. There seems to be evidence to show that counterfeit product is circulating in the area. I would urge any consumer or retailer who has inadvertently bought the product to contact their local trading standards service."

Anyone in West Berkshire or Wokingham who has concerns about counterfeit products should contact the Trading Standards Service (01635) 519930 or email tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk