(FoodMag) - s the presence of counterfeit wine continues to rise in China, WA-based Linkar Group together with the Guangdong Guangxin Information Industry Development Co have developed an app and tracing technology to help distinguish fake wine from the genuine product.

A new labelling system on the wine bottles enables a tracing system to be activated and the wine tracked. The tracing system comprises a collection of search engines that enable consumers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and suppliers to access data related to their wine, and the wine labels feature coding that can be scanned within a smartphone app.

Margaret River’s McHenry Hohnen Wine will be the first winery to utilise the technology, with its first shipment scheduled to leave for China next month, The West reports.

Co-owner of McHenry Hohnen, Murray McHenry says that in addition to a direct loss of income, counterfeit wine has the potential to damage the integrity of a wine brand.

"As a small premium producer, it is vital that wines sold into the China market are protected from being copied, which destroys the integrity of our crafted product," McHenry told The West.

"By having a tracking system on each carton and bottle we will be able to ensure our premium wines are what the consumer is purchasing.