Chai Consulting

Maureen Downey, aka “The Sherlock Holmes of Wines,” is a distinguished independent expert in fine and rare wine collection advisory, curation and inventory management. She is the global authority on wine fraud, counterfeits and authentication.

Through her firm, Chai Consulting, in its 22nd year, she advises the worlds most prominent collectors and family offices, crafting collections, sourcing, vetting, authenticating, managing, thinning, and liquidating inventories. Based in her hometown in Silicon Valley, she manages over $120million in fine wine assets with clients across the globe.

Aside from wine fraud/counterfeit cases, Downey is a sought-after expert witness in cases involving bottles/inventories damaged by heat, fire, poor storage/transport conditions and disasters, as well as asset division in dissolution and estate needs. Ms. Downey is considered a top woman in wine and can be seen combating counterfeits in TV shows and podcasts including the documentary film Sour Grapes.



Services:
Wine Appraisals, Wine Liquidation, Expert Witness Services, TCM Wine Authentication, Wine Collection Management, Cellar Planning, Wine Fraud Training, Wine Inventory Management, Wine Sourcing, Wine Collection Consulting