Rudy Kurniawan wines, FBI, sour grapes film
Wine bottles found in Rudy Kurniawan's house after an FBI raid in 2012.
(Image credit: Sour Grapes / Dogwoof / FBI / US government)

A US television network is reportedly creating a drama series with Star Trek actor John Cho about a con artist who dupes wealthy collectors into buying fake versions of the world's rarest wines.

Star Trek’s John Cho has been lined up to play the lead character in the series, named Connoisseur, according to US publication Variety. NBC is set to air it on its USA Network.

The move comes after a spate of high profile fine wine fraud cases in the US.

John Cho, connoisseur

John Cho is reported to be lined up for the lead role in Connoisseur.
(Image credit: Wikipedia / Charlie Nguyen)

In Connoisseur, Cho plays a character called Clay Park who is originally from South Korea, reported Variety.

He starts by tricking collectors into paying millions of dollars for fake wine. But, he ends up entangled with an organised crime gang.

The idea for the show follows recent FBI investigations into counterfeit fine wines.

Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines destroyed in Texas

Rudy Kurniawan counterfeit wines meet their end in Texas.
(Image credit: US Marshalls)

Rudy Kurniawan is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for making and selling millions of dollars-worth of copycat fine wines in his Los Angeles kitchen.

Earlier this month, John Fox, owner of California’s Premier Cru retailer, turned himself in to the FBI and admitted conning customers out of at least $45m.

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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.