Wine producer charged over sultana substitution

Seven years after the event, a former boss of a South Australian winery has been found guilty of passing off sultana grapes as chardonnay.

Andrew Hashim, one-time managing director of Rivers Wines in the Riverland, has been charged with falsifying records, and falsely selling grape juice and wine as chardonnay to more than 10 companies during the 2003 vintage.

It was discovered when one buyer raised doubts about the variety, leading to an investigation by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.

Peter Simic, editor of Winestate Magazine, says the company was trying to capitalise on the high chardonnay prices.

"They're doing it for money and I think during 2003 it was the boom period for Australian chardonnay, so it was selling for $1000 dollars a tonne, whereas sultana was of course very cheap, perhaps $200 or $300 a tonne," he says.

"So there was a big difference then."