Services
Authentication
As a Swiss-based wine authentication expert, trained and mentored by the worlds leading expert, Maureen Downey, I provide independent, expert assessments of fine and rare wine. My work combines forensic examination, provenance research and decades of industry knowledge to protect collectors, auction houses and institutions from counterfeit or misrepresented bottles.
Every inspection adheres to the strict, documented protocols of The Chai Method®, a proprietary, systematic approach to bottle inspection to assess authenticity. TCM® Inspection involves use of various forms of magnification, measurement, lighting, imaging and analysis of over 100 different individual bottle details. Professional expert opinion and findings are reported verbally, or in formal court-ready written reports.
Specific services include, but are not limited to, the following:
Authentication and verbal reporting for private collectors
Pre-acquisition or pre-sale authentication
Court-ready expert reports for counterfeit bottles
Expert witness and advisory services (for legal disputes and insurance claims)
Upon request, formal entry into the Chai Vault, blockchain ledger of authenticity
With extensive training and experience working with a community of the worlds leading experts in wine authentication, I approach every project with precision, objectivity and discretion.
Whether inspecting individual bottles or an entire collection, my commitment remains the same: to protect the integrity, value and legacy of fine wine.
VinID – Digital Passport for Authenticated Wine
Once a bottle has been authenticated, it can be fitted with a VinID NFC tag, creating a secure digital link between the physical bottle and its digital passport. VinID is a technology platform developed by ZATAP that combines NFC technology with blockchain to provide each bottle with a unique, digitally secured identity.
Authentication you can verify
The VinID tag provides a simple way to access the authentication certificate associated with a specific bottle. By tapping the tag with a compatible smartphone, the owner or prospective buyer can access the bottle's digital identity and relevant authentication information.
The tag therefore provides an additional layer of confidence when buying, selling or transferring an authenticated wine.
From authentication to provenance
Authentication establishes that a bottle is genuine at a particular point in time. VinID can then help preserve that information as the bottle moves through the secondary market.
The combination of expert authentication, a unique physical identifier and a digital provenance record creates a stronger chain of trust around the bottle.
VinID tags are available as an optional addition to our authentication service.
Education and training
I believe that the first step to combating wine fraud is raising awareness.
I offer bespoke training and awareness to selected audiences designed to educate collectors, trade professionals and institutions on types of wine fraud and the extent of it, and how to help mitigate the risks associated with it, from prevention, detection and response.
Types of engagements may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Professional presentations to closed-groups
Professional training and awareness to trade professionals (such as auction house teams)
One-off event collaborations and private sessions
Given the sensitivity of certain information, training engagements will be selectively agreed to under certain arrangements which may include pre-screening of attendees.