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Constellation Brands, the world's biggest wine group, was another recipient of some of the 18 million bottles of fake pinot noir sold by French winemakers, US officials confirmed Thursday.
Constellation's involvement in the massive transatlantic swindle emerged in court documents seen by AFP after 12 wine-makers and dealers were convicted on Wednesday of passing off cheaper wine as pinot noir to US clients.
The US Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau confirmed to AFP that Constellation bought some of the phoney goods.
"We are aware of Constellation's receipt of some of this wine and will determine an appropriate course of action following our review of the court documents," a spokesman wrote in an email.
Constellation said it would make a statement on the issue later Thursday.
A court in southwestern France on Wednesday handed out suspended jail terms and hefty fines to the 12 people for selling 18 million bottles (135,334 hectolitres) of fake pinot noir that had been made from cheaper grape types.
Gallo, another US wine giant, said Wednesday it had bought less than 20 percent of the falsely labelled pinot noir involved.
French pinot noir became hugely popular in the United States after the 2004 film "Sideways" about two friends who go on a wine-tasting trip of self-discovery in California.
