Brunello di Montalcino with anti-fraud hologram
The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona vineyard, which produces some 49,000 bottles of Brunello a year, has started to protect the authenticity of its wines with a special hologram impressed in the wine cap, report various Italian newspapers. The technology was developed by the German firm Leonhard Kurz, which provides 150 banks, including the European Central Bank, with its security products. Some luxury goods manufacturers are planning to use this method as well. A hologram is embedded in the wine cap with letters and a logo, which reportedly is nearly tamper proof.
It's a bit cumbersome though. As the proud owner of a bottle of their Brunello di Montalcino you need to phone in the registration number in order to get an automated confirmation message. I guess this will only be used for real expensive wines. But it's a great idea to combat piracy. Have the Chinese started to produce pirate wines? Living in Avignon I just go to the vignerons I trust and buy my wine directly from the caveau. Our price range here would probably not justify a hologram protection. But some of the top producers of Bordeaux and Burgundy wines should look at this.
