Identiv, Genuine Analytics, ZATAP & NXP: IoT against wine counterfeiting
High-quality wines are among the most frequently counterfeited luxury goods. To enable producers, auction houses, and collectors to perform reliable, fast, and tamper-proof verification, Identiv and its partners Genuine-Analytics, ZATAP, and NXP Semiconductors have developed an end-to-end solution that verifies both the bottle and its contents —supported by Secure NFC, scientific content analysis, and blockchain-based data integrity.
The innovation was named Best Technology Innovation at the World Beverage Innovation Awards 2025 at drinktec 2025 in Munich.
From expert inspection to data-based authentication
Traditionally, wine authentication has been based on experience and a trained eye. However, with increasingly professional counterfeiting – from replicated bottles to refilling genuine originals – there is a growing need for technically secure evidence. The partners' approach: a "digital twin" for each bottle that links physical identity with verified, immutable evidence.
How the solution works
Identiv develops and supplies the secure NFC inlays that physically link the bottle to its digital identity. NXP NTAG® 424 DNA TagTamper chips are used to detect tampering attempts.
Genuine Analytics checks the wine content using scientific analysis (sampling via a microscopic opening) and compares the results with the winePROOF database.
ZATAP provides the mobile user interface and blockchain integration so that test data and provenance are available in real time.
The result: end-to-end authentication that confirms both the authenticity of the bottle and the integrity of its contents.
Practical test in an auction environment
The solution has already been tested in a high-priced auction scenario: at a Swiss wine auction in 2024, the platform helped identify a counterfeit before it could enter circulation. This provides additional security for sellers and buyers – especially where individual bottles reach five-figure values.
"We see this award as confirmation that trust in premium products can now be digitized in a scalable way – by linking the physical goods to a verifiable digital identity," says Klaus Simonmeyer, Vice President at Identiv.
Beyond wine: Authenticity as infrastructure
The companies involved see the approach as transferable to other industries with high counterfeiting risks, such as spirits, luxury goods, and pharmaceuticals. The goal is to create a new, standardizable basis for product protection, supply chain transparency, and digital proof of trust.
Do you have questions about the solution or are you interested in a pilot project? Contact Klaus Simonmeyer for a no-obligation consultation.
About Identiv
Identiv develops and supplies specialized IoT components—including secure NFC and RFID solutions—for applications such as product authentication, transparency, and digital identities along supply chains.
About the partners
Genuine Analytics: scientific wine content analysis and winePROOF database.
ZATAP: Platform for mobile authentication and blockchain-based product identities.
NXP Semiconductors: semiconductor technology, including secure NFC chips for authentication.