Advanced DNA identification techniques could be used to prove the origins of fine wines, helping in the fight against fraud and counterfeiting, says a hi-tech US company.

BioMaterial Genotyping, developed by Applied DNA Sciences (APDN), uses DNA to confirm the origins of wine through traces left by its ingredients – likened to ‘nature’s fingerprints’.

APDN believes the technology could have multiple benefits for the industry, authenticating wines and protecting brands, as well as offering quality assurance throughout production. The technology could also be used by Customs and other official bodies to confirm authenticity.

The company can also apply ink-based, non-replicable DNA markers to bottles, labels and corks, which can be screened using a hand-held reader, or identified using DNA analysis.

APDN claims the markers have a false positive rate of less than one in a trillion.

Written by Richard Woodard

Richard Woodard
Richard Woodard
Decanter Magazine, Wine & Spirits Writer

Richard Woodard is a freelance wine and spirits writer based in the UK. Aside from Decanter, he writes for several wine trade and media outlets including Imbibe, The Drinks Business, Harpers and Drinks International.

Since 2015 he has been the magazine editor of Scotchwhisky.com. He has formerly worked as a wine news reporter at Imbibe and a feature writer for Halycon Magazine.