Wine dupe in Paris

Some tourists in Paris are being duped into paying for expensive wines like Chablis or Sancerre, only to be served cheaper alternatives according to a new investigation.

French newspaper Le Parisien uncovered widespread wine fraud in the capital’s cafes and brasseries, particularly in tourist areas. Two undercover sommeliers posed as customers and found that €9 glasses of high-end wine were routinely swapped for budget €5 options. Complaints were often ignored or met with another pour of the wrong wine.

Waiting staff admitted the “repotting” trick of decanting cheaper wine into more expensive bottles, is sometimes encouraged by owners seeking higher profit margins. One former employee said tourists were regularly targeted: “When I saw American tourists arrive, I knew they were going to be had.”

Experts warn the practice damages the reputation of French wine, and by law, customers are entitled to have wine opened and poured in front of them with the label clearly visible.