Nouveau World Wines Ltd: brief news update

The position as it stands today is that six people remain on police bail. They will return on bail in April 2012. No charging decision has yet been made.

Nouveau World Wines Ltd: six arrested in wine investment scam

Six people were arrested today by fraud squad officers investigating a wine investment scam.

Two women aged aged 40 and 32 and four men aged 40, 65, 30 and 34 were held during raids in east and south east London. One of those arrested is understood to be 34 year-old Daniel Snelling.

The move came after Scotland Yard detectives were alerted to a large-scale specialist wine fraud. Investigators believe victims have handed over thousands of pounds to invest in specialist Australian wines. Once the money was taken the “investors” were told the wine had been laid down to increase in value as it aged, but it did not exist.

Detective Chief Inspector Robin Cross, who leads the fraud squad, said the arrests followed a lengthy inquiry, codenamed Operation Iceman.

 

The senior officer said: “This kind of investment fraud is becoming far too common. People from all economic backgrounds are being targeted and persuaded to invest in what appears to be a sound financial opportunity.

"We would advise those considering investing money, whether it be a small or large amount, to do their research and be sure that the companies or individuals they are dealing with are reputable and legitimate.”

The arrests were made at two business address and several homes in Docklands, Sidcup and Bexley. The six were being held at an east London police station on suspicion of money laundering offences.It is understoond that they have now (5th March) been released on police bail.

Set up in September 2004 Nouveau World Wines Ltd offered Australian boutique wines as an investment – often powerful Shirazes. Wines sold to investors included 2007 Molly Dooker Carnival of Love Shiraz, 2005 Two Hands Aphrodite and 2005 Greenock Creek Alice's Shiraz. 

As well as London offices Nouveau World Wines Ltd claimed to have offices in Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia. 

On NWW's website, which has now been taken down, the company explained that: 'all the fine wines from Nouveau World Wines are sourced through out wine regions across the new world market, namely Australia, Argentina, California, Chile, South Africa and New Zealand. Each vine yard comes with a good trading history in fine wine. The wines are mostly stored in reputable bonded warehouses in perfect storage conditions or stored at the original point of production within in the vine yard. Most wines are available in original wooden cases unless stated.'

Wine investment companies offering Australian wine have a poor history. Australian based Heritage Fine Wines and Wine Orb both collapsed spectacularly in 2005.   

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This is a combined report sourced from a Press Association report by Chris Greenwood, Press Association's crime correspondent from story on Kent News ­www.kentnews.co.uk

www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Fraud-squad-arrest-eight-for-alleged-wine-scam-newsinkent33446.aspx?news=local
+ With my additions on 5th March 2010.

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My comment 

So far the company involved has not been named nor have those arrested. I have, however, received a number of messages recently from concerned investors who had bought various Australian wines for investment and who were having difficulty contacting the company. 

I'm delighted to see further evidence that the police forces are now taking wine scams seriously. I remain amazed that so many people are prepared to invest in something they probably know little about from companies they know even less. It is not as though the sums are small I have been contacted by people who have written cheques for over £100,000 for wines that never existed – all on the basis of a cold call!

I'm particularly pleased to see police action in the lead up to the 2009 Bordeaux en primeur campaign, which will surely be heavily hyped and demand for the top wines may well out strip demand. En primeur, where you pay for wine two years before it is delivered is a brilliant bespoke vehicle for potential fraud.

Australian wines for investment?

I have recently received an enquiry from someone who has been offered some Australian wines as an investment. I will shortly be posting a reply to this equiry but here are some general comments on investing in Australian wine.

If you have never invested in wine before, do not start with Australian wine. With few exceptions, most notably Penfolds Grange and Henscke's Hill of Grace, Australian wines do not have a long track record of resale.  Australian wine tends to be speculative and high risk. This is particularly true of cult wines, often small production, This has nothing to do with the quality or drinkability of Australian wine but merely whether it is a good investment. It is not a beginner's investment.

Australian wines hardly feature in wine auctions in Europe. I asked David Elswood, head of Christie's wine department, about the proportion of Australian wine at their auctions.  'Pretty negligible really - less than 1% I would say and mostly Grange,' was his response. It is a similar story at Sotheby's as Stephen Mould, senior director and head of department, Europe wine, confirmed: 'Approximately less than 0.4% of our sales are of Australian wines.  This is based on data we looked at from sales dating from 1999 to 2006 where Australian wine made up 0.37% of our sales.  I pretty sure since then this figure has not improved and may in fact be as little as 0.2 to 0.3%'. 

If you are looking to start a wine investment portfolio, then you should start with top Bordeaux, which has a long track record and makes up the majority of the business handled by fine wine merchants and wine auction houses like Christie's and Sotheby's. As always buy from an established and reputable merchant not from an opportunistic cold call.

Langton's is the largest wine auction house in Australia and is the specialist for fine Australian wine sales. Their website provides regular reports on the wine market and there is a price guide listing wines that have appeared in Langton's auctions and their prices.