Georges Duboeuf has hinted he may appeal against a French court ruling that found his company guilty of blending wines from different types of grape, reports Just-Drinks.com.

Duboeuf, inventor of Beaujolais Nouveau and dubbed 'le Pape du Beaujolais' by French wine critics, was fined 30,000 Euros for blending cheaper and high-quality grapes - a practice forbidden under France's AOC system.

Throughout the trial, held in Villefranche-sur-Saone in the Rhone Valley, Duboeuf, 72, denied the wine in question had been marketed or sold.

He argued that the former production manager at the winery, Sylvain Dory, had spotted the mistake and promptly resigned. Dory was given a three-month suspended sentence and fined 3,000 Euros.

Duboeuf's lawyer had argued that his client was innocent and said: "This trial is not just costly for the Duboeuf company, it is costly for the whole wine-producing region of Beaujolais."

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