Riverland company fined over wine deception
Riverland company fined over wine deception
Aug 16, 2010 6
A Riverland wine company and its managing director have been fined more than $350 thousand for falsely selling sultanas as wine grapes. It is believed to be the largest case of wine deception in Australia. In 2003, Rivers Wines and its managing director Andrew Ersoy Hashim falsified records to pass off sultanas as chardonnay grapes.
The company pleaded guilty to 79 counts and Hashim was convicted on 34 counts after a lengthy trial.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Hashim is now bankrupt and cannot pay a fine.
The auxiliary magistrate said Hashim's offending had serious consequences for the wine industry but he had shown no remorse.
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