In Hungary, a winemaker has been caucht in fraudulent dealings, and it is not just anybody, either: the producer at the focus of this scandal was voted winemaker of the year in 2005.

As reported in detail in Hungarian media, as well as by the German Weinreporter, the authorities have charged winemaker Vincze Béla from Eger with irregular dealings. He has been banned from using the designation of origin Eger for the next three years. The background to this appears to be that he illegally added glycerine to some wines, and also fraudulently falisfied the certificate of origin. The authorities are not only investigating this leading winemaker, but the head of the local wine industry committee board as well. Even more embarassing: the chairman of the Hungarian Wine Academy, which regularly awards the title of winemaker of the year, has also come under investigation by the authorities; his winery has been subjected to a 30-day cessation of operations, in terms of Hungarian law. (WF)