Fighting Wine Crime - with Maureen Downey

I’m pretty sure it was Batman who said that crime never sleeps, but justice knows no bounds. Well, my eyes were truly opened when I began following the work of the illustrious Maureen Downey and her quest to shine the light on and fight wine crime. I was slightly more shocked with how readily Maureen agreed to sit down with me and share her story. Maureen Downey is a renowned authority in the world of wine fraud detection and authentication. With over two decades of experience, she has solidified her reputation as a trusted expert in the field, earning the respect of collectors, producers, and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Downey's journey into the wine world began in the world of hospitality, but her fascination with fine and rare wines eventually led her to focus on uncovering counterfeit and misrepresented bottles. Maureen played a key role in the taking down of wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan and continues to traverse the wine world searching out and tackling criminal activity. In addition to her consulting work, Downey has been instrumental in educating the wine industry about the dangers of fraud and the importance of transparency. She continues to be a prominent voice in advocating for greater accountability and integrity in the world of wine, making Maureen Downey an indispensable figure in safeguarding the authenticity of fine wine. Maureen recently joined me for an action-packed conversation in which she shared her story and more. A massive thanks to Maureen for joining me.