A Canterbury company and three individuals have been sentenced for a raft of charges related to fraudulently blending and mislabelling wine, then falsifying records to cover it up.
Southern Boundary Wines, its directors Scott Charles Berry and Andrew Ronald Moore and its employee and winemaker Rebecca Junell Cope received their sentences at the Christchurch District Court.
The company received a $1.7 million fine.
Berry was sentenced to 10 months and two weeks' home detention and ordered to pay reparation of $25,000.
Moore was sentenced to two months and two weeks' home detention and ordered to pay reparation of $20,000, while Cope was sentenced to 200 hours of community work.
MPI's Director of Compliance Gary Orr said the court case followed a long-running MPI investigation.
"This investigation began in earnest in 2014 when MPI inspectors visited Southern Boundary Wines' facility and found a rubbish sack of winemaking records.
"By meticulously piecing together these records, as well as other documents and evidence, we were able to build a picture of offending which eventually led to a series of convictions and today's sentencing," said Orr.
"The rules are there to protect consumers at home and abroad so that they can be sure they are getting what they pay for. Any offending which tries to profit from getting around these rules is extremely disappointing."
He said the New Zealand's wine industry had a well-earned reputation with importing countries because of the quality and integrity of its products.
"We need to keep it this way, and this prosecution sends a strong message that MPI will pursue this kind of offending, and where we have evidence, place it before the courts.
"This matter was first brought to our attention by a now-former employee of Southern Boundary Wines. I'd like to acknowledge that person's courage to come forward and expose significant offending."