Six people have been arrested as part of an investigation into a wine fraud ring that allegedly sold fake French wine for up to €15,000 ($16,300) per bottle.

French and Italian police say they have broken up an international fraud ring that was passing poor quality bottles of wine off as vintages worth up to €15,000 (£12,500) each. Six people - including a Russian national who is the suspected ringleader - have been arrested in Paris, Turin and Milan.

French, Italian, and Swiss police have busted a criminal network that sold average-quality wine as exclusive French red of the so-called Grand Cru superior quality for up to 15,000 euros (US$16,360) per bottle and amassing profits of more than 2 million euros (US$2.