Using Cesium-137 testing to find counterfeit wine
a day ago
- #counterfeit
- #wine
- #forensics
- Philippe Hubert, a physicist, tests wine for radioactivity to detect counterfeits.
- Maureen Downey, a wine detective, uses forensic tools to examine wine authenticity.
- Counterfeit wine is a growing problem, with millions of dollars in fakes reported.
- Fraudsters use various methods to make counterfeit wine and bottles appear authentic.
- The 'Jefferson Bottles' saga involves a $157,000 auctioned bottle supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson.
- Bill Koch purchased four Jefferson bottles, later found to be likely fakes.
- Hardy Rodenstock, a music publisher, was identified as the source of the counterfeit Jefferson bottles.
- Cesium 137 testing was used to date wine, but couldn't confirm the Jefferson bottles' authenticity.
- Rudy Kurniawan created counterfeit wines using detailed recipes and was later jailed.
- Modern tools used to engrave the Jefferson bottles proved they couldn't be from Jefferson's time.