(WineBusiness) - A former Napa Valley vintner indicted for allegedly mislabeling wine and grapes pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Oakland to mail and wire fraud.

A San Francisco grand jury on Nov. 1 indicted Jeffry Hill, 38, of Clovis, Calif. for mislabeling and selling grapes and bulk wine from outside Napa County as pricey Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon, according to the indictment. Hill, who ran Hill Wine Co. near St. Helena, was arrested on Nov. 2 in Clovis and released on his own recognizance.

The alleged victims, including Trinitas Cellars, ASV Wines and Don Sebastiani & Sons, paid more than $1.5 million for mislabeled wine, grape juice and other wine products, according to the indictment.

Hill, 38, of Clovis, Calif., on Wednesday appeared with his assigned public defender before Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu in federal court in Oakland. Ryu declined the prosecution’s request to raise Hill’s bail to $25,000; Hill remains free on his own recognizance.