Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines at a landfill site in Texas
Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines at a landfill site in Texas.
(Image credit: Lynzey Donahue / US Marshals)

More than 500 counterfeits of the some of the world's finest wines have been crushed at a Texas waste disposal site almost exactly two years after their maker, Rudy Kurniawan, was convicted of wine fraud in a US court. See photos of the destruction below.

A Container of smashed bottles bearing some of the wine world’s most renowned names, including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Château Pétrus, was all that remained of more than 500 of the Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines destroyed by US Marshals late last week.

He produced counterfeit wines at his Los Angeles for several years in an elaborate operation that involved concocting blends in his kitchen sink and printing off fake labels on his computer.

See photos below of several Kurniawan wines being destroyed.

Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines await destruction

Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines await destruction at a Texas landfill site.
(Image credit: Lynzey Donahue / US Marshals)

At the demolition in Texas, bottles of counterfeit wine were lined up to be crushed by a crane.

Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines destroyed in Texas

Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines meet their end in Texas.
(Image credit: Lynzey Donahue / US Marshals)

After being pulverised, glass will go to be recycled, while the liquid contents of the bottles is set to be used as compost, US Marshals said.

The damage after Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines are destroyed in Texas

The damage after Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines are destroyed in Texas.
(Image credit: Lynzey Donahue / US Marshals)

Around 5,000 bottles authenticated as genuine and found in Kurniawan’s private cellar were this month being auctioned by US Marshals.

‘Every thing that’s being destroyed here today has been deemed either counterfeit, that it was part of his scheme, or that had no sale value,’ said Jason Martinez, assistant program manager for the US Marshals Asset Forfeiture Division. His comments were reported on Kvue.com in an article cited by US Marshals on its own website.

At the time of Kurniawan’s conviction, it was believed that some of his counterfeit wine remained unaccounted for.

In mid-2014, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to re-pay $28.4m to victims. His lawyers have continued to appeal against the conviction and argued that their client was penniless.

Salon Le Mesnil Nature, Champagne 1928, Rudy Kurniawan wines

Salon Le Mesnil Nature Champagne 1928, from Rudy Kurniawan's private cellar.
(Image credit: txauction.com)

‘Authentic’ Rudy Kurniawan wines up for auction

Rudy Kurniawan, Lamborghini

Rudy Kurniawan's Lamborghini will be auctioned on 29 October.
(Image credit: Apple Auctioneering Co)

Wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan’s Lamborghini up for auction

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(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Rudy Kurniawan appeals wine fraud conviction

Rudy Kurniawan has appealed against his conviction for making and selling millions of dollars-worth of fake fine wines in his

Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.