Suspicions of fake champagne: six companies of Marne winemaker Didier Chopin placed in mandatory liquidation

This is a case that has been shaking the Champagne vineyards for several months. Didier Chopin, a winegrower based in Champlat-et-Boujacourt in Marne, is accused of selling 1.8 million fake champagne bottles. As of early 2024, six of his companies are placed in judicial liquidationsaid one information from the Union newspaper confirmed on France Bleu Champagne-Ardennes by the President of the Commercial Court of Reims.

With a debt burden of approximately 16 million eurosleads the placement in judicial liquidation of these companies “the complete end of their activities”to remind Etienne Le Duand a long-term layoff for employees who were still employed at the start of the procedure, which was initiated in the autumn of 2023.

1.8 hectares of allocated vines

Six of Didier Chopin’s employees have also done so has brought this case before the labor court. Their lawyer from Reims Emmanuel LudotThat asks 50,000 euros per employeeis concerned about the consequences of the forced liquidation of the companies of Marne winegrowers for its customers. “As for compensation, it will only be paid if there is money left after everything has been sold.”he explains.

As for the winegrower’s plots, 1.8 hectares of vines in Champlat-et-Boujacourt, these were assigned on April 25 by the Reims Commercial Court to SAFER Grand-Est, the Land Development and Establishment Company rural, for 1.8 million euros.