An intriguing article here in the Mercados de Vino about a trip by Jay Miller, one of Robert Parker's team of critics, organised by Pancho Campo MW. Apparently 'Dr' Campo charged Navarra 100,000€ to organise the visit.
As a non-Spanish speaker I have been provided with a brief summary of the article:
'This article says that Pancho Campo has charged D.O. Navarra €100,000 for a Jay Miller “promotional” tour of wineries and a 14-wine tasting in Pamplona.
The idea is to help the region penetrate into the American market by influencing Robert Parker and his Wine Advocate magazine.
The article does raise a previous attempt to promote Navarra in the US by trying to influence marks in a wine publication (Peñín Guide), calling the practice “dubious.”'
I understand that this matter was briefly debated on e-robertparker, which is subscription only. From a posting on Chris Kissack's The Wine Doctor site the explanation is that there was a $15,000 fee paid for a lecture by Miller.
Although not in the Bill Clinton lecture fees league, $15,000 is a decidedly generous fee for a lecture in wine circles. It would be interesting to have more details of this lecture – its subject, duration and to whom?
Bertrand has also been to see Lise and Bertrand Jousset (Montlouis).
••
Bunch in the Quarts de Chaume: late September 2010
Good post from Patrick Baudouin rounding up his 2010 vintage here.
••
Rebecca Gibb
Rebecca Gibb has some sharp criticism of the first Wine Future and wonders whether the second one will be any better.
'Will Winefuture 2011 sink or swim?
Tuesday 30 November
Winefuture 2009 - where were the future wine leaders?
Winefuture moves to Hong Kong in November 2011
I sincerely hope the second edition of this conference is better than the first, as I would have been seriously pissed off if I had spent more than 700 euro on a ticket to Winefuture in Rioja.'
Rebecca: looking at the wine celebs on the confirmed speakers this looks more like a golden oldies convention with a number of brickies (a technical term for wine critics over 60) present, although, of course, there are exceptions like Gary Vee and Debra Meiburg. Many of the speakers were at the first edition.
I doubt the future wine leaders will be found here. Instead you are probably more likely to find them at the wine bloggers conferences in the US and Europe.
Which reminds me I still haven't had any answers from Dr Pancho Campo about the current status of his conviction and one year prison sentence in Dubai imposed in June 2003. I can only assume that the conviction still stands, otherwise Pancho Campo would surely have been keen to explain that it had been set aside. Instead two associated parties sent messages to a leading wine magazine that legal action against me was probably imminent. Campo's lawyers had previously threatened Gerry Dawes with legal action in relation to Pancho Campo's then appearance on Interpol's wanted list.
I suspect the continued uncertainty over Campo's Dubai conviction may have been in factor in Rioja turning down Campo's attempted takeover of Los Grandes de la Rioja earlier this year. Apparently he was promising to give Los Grandes a high media profile with more razzamtazz – making it another celebrity jamboree, perhaps. Wisely the Riojans decided that Los Grandes was already in good hands.
Logroño, the capital of Rioja, inevitably brings echoes of the 2009 WineFuture seminar held here in early November 2009 organised by Pancho Campo. It reminds me that although I directed a number of questions to Pancho and his lawyers back in the latter part of July when Campo's name was removed from the Interpol wanted list. I have been seeking clarification of this annoucement - an example from the Indian Wine Academy site here:
'The message received late last night, ‘it gives me great pleasure to inform you that Interpol has accepted our request to take Pancho from their Red Notice list. We have managed to prove that Pancho´s case was not handled well, the accusations were wrong and he should have never been listed in Interpol’s website. He is now a free and innocent man,’ does not need any further explanation.' 23rd July 2010.
Questions sent to Pancho Campo and the Spanish Wine Academy:
21st July 2010
'Does this mean that your conviction and sentence in Dubai from June 2003 has been quashed or set aside? I'd be very grateful if you could clarify this for me please? '
22nd July 2010, resent 29th July 2010
A) Why did Interpol remove Pancho Campo MW's name from the Interpol wanted list? What evidence was provided that persuaded the authorities that his name should be removed.
B) What is current status of Campo's conviction in Dubai on 1st June 2003 for breach of trust/fraud and sentence to a year in prison. Has this conviction been quashed or set aside or does it still stand?
C) Are there any further legal cases involving Pancho Campo MW in the United Arab Emirates?
29th July 2010: to Paulina Campo-Bacque: Executive Director of Spanish Wine Academy Unfortunately I have not had a response to the questions (see below) I sent you on 22nd July asking for them to be forwarded to the Butler lawyer (James Butler is Campo's father-in-law and it was his lawyer I was told on 22.7.10 would handle all questions relating to this case).
I have subsequently been in contact with Interpol in France who cast doubt on Pancho Campo's claim that Interpol had accepted his request for the Red Notice to be removed from their site.
Their explanation (below) of how the Red Notices work appears to be at variance with Pancho Campo's claim that Interpol accepted his request to be removed from the Interpol site.
'As there is no Red Notice published on the INTERPOL website for this person, this means that either the Notice is restricted to law enforcement access only, or the country which requested the issue of a Red Notice has cancelled this request.
A Red Notice is issued by the INTERPOL General Secretariat in Lyon, France at the request of a member country on the basis of a valid national arrest warrant.'
I would be grateful if the Butler lawyer would comment on this.
It would appear likely that the request to remove Pancho Campo's name came from the United Arab Emirates. Was this as a result of a deal concluded with Jackie Wartanian? And, if so, what were the terms of this deal?
I would be very grateful if you would pass these further questions onto the Butler lawyer.
*
To date I have had absolutely no response to these questions, which is surprising as Pancho Campo promised earlier this year that I would be the first to know when he was cleared and he would give me the full story. Furthermore if Campo is correct and Interpol did remove his name at his request and admitted the mistake one would imagine that he would be keen to provide further information to bolster his claim.
My final email to Campo-Bacque did, however, appear to trigger an intriguing and unexpected response: the pressure group Detained in Dubai sent a near hysterical email (30th July) to one of the wine magazines I contribute on the entirely erroneous belief that I had been asked to write a follow up story on Interpol's response. The email warned that 'our legal team in the United Kingdom are presently exploring whether to pursue legal action for damages against Jim Budd for his unprofessional conduct (harassment and defamation). We thought it appropriate to inform you of possible impending litigious action.'
I have no idea whether 'Detained in Dubai' acted entirely independently here or whether the email was sent at the request of someone associated with the Spanish Wine Academy. In September 2009 American wine and food journalist was threatened with legal action by one of Campo's lawyers for looking into the Interpol red notice.
To date I have heard nothing from 'Detained in Dubai' and certainly not as much as a bat's squeak from them about 'imminent legal action'.
*
I have to say that the continuing silence from Doctor Campo and his legal team suggests to me that Interpol's explanation is correct and that rather than Interpol 'accepting' Campo's request some sort of deal was concluded in Dubai, possibly involving Jackie Wartanian, Campo's previous business partner, which led to Campo's name being removed from Interpol's wanted list.
A well-appointed office at the practice of Excellent Counsel and Good Advice, attorneys in law in downtown Dubai. Senior partner, Excellent Counsel widely known as Excel, greets Pancho Campo.
Excel: Hi Pancho. How are you doing?
Pancho: Fine Excel. Yourself?
Excel: Yeah, good. Can’t complain! You’re looking in great shape!
Pancho: Since the business went bust, I’m getting lots more time to play tennis.
Excel: Yeah – the business! I’ve been thinking Pancho – why don’t you leave Dubai, go back to Spain and make a fresh start.
Pancho: What would I do in Spain, Excel?
Excel: Well you could do something with wine. Run wine events perhaps? After all you have had plenty of experience running sporting and musical events – can’t be very different.
Pancho: Well I must say it’s an attractive idea. But what about the court case?
Excel (with a wave of his hand): Pancho don’t worry about that! We’ll fix it… it may take awhile but we can fix it. You just head off to Spain.
Pancho: But, Excel, I had to appear before the court back in June and surrendered my Chilean passport.
Excel: It won't be a problem. You worry too much Pancho!
Pancho: But Excel, as you know, I’ve got dual nationality and I don’t want to lose my Chilean passport. I mean the court won’t give it back, will they?
Excel: Really Pancho it is not a problem. You’ve still got your Spanish passport! No seriously you can always get a new Chilean passport.
Pancho: How can I do that?
Excel: Once you and the family are settled in Spain, just contact the Chilean Embassy, tell them you have lost your passport and that you need another one.
(Cont on page 94)
The scenario mentioned on the Indian Wine Academy site surely assumes that the lawyer, with whom Campo subsequently lost contact, was either incompetent or a rogue.
In a message to his supporters sent on 21st July 2010, Pancho Campo asserted:
'I have been informed today that Interpol accepted my request to take my name out of their list. They have found that a mistake was made and an injustice was committed against me.
'Finally my name is out of their website and I am no longer a "wanted" person.'
A similar message was sent to The Indian Wine Academy:
'It gives me great pleasure to inform you that Interpol has accepted our request to take Pancho from their Red Notice list. We have managed to prove that Pancho´s case was not handled well, the accusations were wrong and he should have never been listed in Interpol’s website. He is now a free and innocent man,’ (http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_3_396.aspx)
However, a response from Interpol's press office to my enquiry indicates that this is not how the system of Red Notices work: 'Dear Mr Budd,
Thank you for your email.
In response to your enquiry, it is not appropriate for INTERPOL to comment on individual cases.
As there is no Red Notice published on the INTERPOL website for this person, this means that either the Notice is restricted to law enforcement access only, or the country which requested the issue of a Red Notice has cancelled this request.
A Red Notice is issued by the INTERPOL General Secretariat in Lyon, France at the request of a member country on the basis of a valid national arrest warrant. We would therefore advise you to contact the authorities of the country which issued the original warrant as they will be able to update you on its status.'
It would appear then that Pancho Campo's name could only have been removed at the request of the authority – Dubai/United Arab Emirates – that issued the request for a Red Notice in the first place. This suggests that Campo's claim that Interpol have admitted that a mistake was made in issuing the Red Notice may well be unlikely as they would have been responding to 'a request of a member country on the basis of a valid national arrest warrant'.
Unfortunately it remains unclear what was the actual process of removing Pancho Campo's name from Interpol's website. Did this process perhaps involve an agreement with Jackie Wartanian, his former business partner who had filed the original complaint back in 2002?
See other recent posts on Pancho Campo here and here.
Following the news (21st July 2010) that Pancho Campo's name had been removed from list of fugitives on the Interpol website I sought clarification from Campo about the current status of his conviction in Dubai in June 2003.
I received the following reply (22nd July 2010):
'Pancho, his wife and children left yesterday evening for their summer holidays overseas.
Also, The Wine Academy closes for the summer vacation until September the 1st.
I shall forward your email to the lawyer of the Butler family who will be handling all matters related to the case.
Regards,
Paulina Campo-Bacque Executive Director'
I sent (22nd July) some questions to be forwarded to the lawyer:
I would be very grateful if you would pass on the following three questions to the Butler family lawyer who is handling these matters.
A) Why did Interpol remove Pancho Campo MW's name from the Interpol wanted list? What evidence was provided that persuaded the authorities that his name should be removed?
B) What is current status of Campo's conviction in Dubai on 1st June 2003 for breach of trust/fraud and sentence to a year in prison. Has this conviction been quashed or set aside or does it still stand?
C) Are there any further legal cases involving Pancho Campo MW in the United Arab Emirates?
Alternatively could you let me have a name and contact details, including an email address, for the Butler family lawyer please?
Last September I broke the news, along with Adam Lechmere, on decanter.com that Pancho Campo MW was wanted by Interpol. I subsequently made several posts about this story on Jim's Loire. I have been informed and have verified this evening that Pancho Campo's name has been removed from Interpol's wanted list.
At this time it is not clear whether Campo's conviction in Dubai in June 2003 and one year prison sentence and subsequent deportation has been quashed or set aside. I am seeking clarification on this and will update this post once this has been clarified.
22nd July 2010 I understand from Paulina Campo-Bacque, the executive director of The Wine Academy of Spain that the lawyer of the Butler family (Campo's in-laws) who will be handling all matters related to the case. I have asked Campo-Bacque to forward some questions to this family lawyer and am awaiting a response.
Friday, October 22, 2010 at 10:00 PM - Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 5:00 PM
'Join wine bloggers, new media innovators and wine industry leaders from across the globe on October 22-24 in Vienna, Austria for the 2010 European Wine Bloggers Conference - the premier educational conference for new media and wine.
Now in its third year, this three day conference offers a unique opportunity to not only share ideas on the convergence of new media and wine, but to also network with passionate and motivated bloggers in various industries and from around the world.'
I was at the second European Wine Bloggers Conference in Lisbon at the end of October and I certainly found it very worthwhile and it was a good meeting place. I expect I will go to the Third edition in Vienna, although I wait to see what the travel and hotel costs will be.
I will also wait until after 1st March as I do not wish to be entered into a prize draw with the possibility of winning a trip to Vinoble, the sweet wine event in Jerez. I have to say I think it regrettable that the European Wine Bloggers Conference has chosen to associate itself with an event being organised by Pancho Campo MW and his Wine Academy of Spain since Campo remains to this day listed on the Interpol site as a fugitive from justice with a warrant for his arrest on a conviction of fraud in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
••
The 2010 North America Win Bloggers Conference will be held at Walla Walla, Washington State from Friday June 25th to Sunday June 27th. Further details here.
Jim’s Loire has been asking Pancho Campo a series of questions since early October with as yet no response, although Pancho did offer an explanation for his silence in an email to me on 23rd November.
Pancho Campo MW to Jim Budd: 23.11.09 ‘Please don’t feel I am ignoring you. My lawyers in Washington, Dubai and Spain have strongly advised me not no disclose any information. They are getting close to seeing some light and don’t want to jeopardize their efforts. Also, the authorities involved have asked for silence and discretion until further notice.
Trust me, you will be first one I will contact as soon as I am given permission to speak.
I am innocent and I will prove my innocence. As a member of the wine community who has tried to contribute to the industry, I would appreciate some support and the benefit of the doubt. If Decanter is willing to, when this ordeal gets to an end I will be happy to give you the story.’
•••
Pancho's discretion above is somewhat in contrast to an interview given in Jerez on 3rd October but this may well have been given before his lawyers and the authorities involved counselled silence.
-Pero pesa sobre usted una orden internacional de arresto. -No, es de localización. Y fíjese lo difícil que le ha sido a usted localizarme. Me ha llamado por teléfono, hemos quedado y aquí estoy.
But there is an international arrest warrant issued against you.
No, it's to find me. And see how difficult it was for you to find me. You called me up by phone, we fixed a date and here I am.
-¿Por qué le buscan? -Por algo que sucedió en Emiratos Árabes, cuando yo vivía en Dubai. Allí se rigen por la legislación musulmana y cualquier delito,ya sea por no pagar la hipoteca o por un talón sin fondos, se juzga por la vía penal. Aquí, sin embargo, no sería más que una cuestión civil.
Why are they looking for you?
Over something that happened in the UAE, when I lived in Dubai. They live by Muslim legislation there and any offense (the word can also be translated as "crime"), be it for not paying your mortgage or for a bounced cheque, is tried via the penal code.
-¿Qué es lo que pasó para que le reclamen? -Una ex socia de la empresa que tenía en Dubai puso un dinero en la sociedad, pero ésta quebró y ella reclama ahora el dinero.
What happened for them to be looking for you?
A former partner in a business I had in Dubai put money into the business, but it went bankrupt and she now claims the money.
-¿Ese dinero no le corresponde? -No, porque era una aportación de capital. En esos casos perdemos todos. Yo, personalmente, perdí bastante más, pero ése es el riesgo que se asume.
Doesn't the money belong to her?
No, because it was a capital injection. In cases like those we all lose everything. Personally, I lost a lot more, but that's the risk you take.
-¿Nunca llegó a celebrarse un juicio por eso? -Se fijó un juicio, pero yo no me enteré. No pudieron localizarme porque entonces yo ya no vivía en Dubai y me había venido a España. Se ve que la Justicia de Emirato Árabes me reclama ahora por esto y ha recurrido a la Interpol. Eso es todo. Creo que se está cometiendo una tremenda injusticia conmigo, pero, como le dije, estoy tranquilo.
Was there never a court case over that?
A court case was arranged, but I didn't get to hear about it. They weren't able to find me because I didn't live in Dubai anymore and had come to live in Spain. It can be seen that the Justice of the UAE is now looking for me and has gone to Interpol. That's all. I think a tremendous injustice has been committed against me, but as I said to you, I'm calm.
WineFuture Rioja09: The conference certainly has an impressive array of both sponsors and speakers. (see below)
I’m sure that these are all prudent people and organisations, who will doubtless have demanded or will demand from Pancho Campo MW, detailed and convincing assurances that the proceeds of fraud in Dubai were not used in the founding of The Wine Academy of Spain in 2003. In these days of ever-stricter money laundering regulations no one would want to be associated with an organisation that might have been set up using the proceeds of a fraud.
Speakers@WineFuture Rioja09: Baudouin Havaux Concours Mondiale de Bruxelles Charlotte Hey, editor of the Drinks Business Magazine Christopher Cannan, Europvin Christian Barré, Domecq Bodegas Justin Howard-Sneyd MW, Waitrose Dmitry Pinsky, Founder and co-owner of DP-Trade, the most important distributor and importer of wine and spirits in Russia. Esteban Cabezas. He is now a partner in The Wine Academy of Spain to develop the first Wine Business School in Spain. Felicity Carter, editor-in-Chief of German based magazine Meininger's Wine Business International. Gary Vaynerchuk Wine Library TV Jancis Robinson OBE, MW Jeremy Benson, president of Benson Marketing Group, a wine marketing agency with offices in Napa, New York and Rioja Jorge Ordoñez, head of Orowines José Peñín, Spanish wine critic Juan Such Juan, one of the founders of Verema.com Kevin Zraly, founder of the Windows of the World Wine School, technical director of WineFuture-Rioja’09 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW based in Singapore, part of the team of reviewers for Robert Parker Manuel Julia, director of FENAVIN, the National Wine Fair, since 2001 Matheiu Chadronnier general manager of the CVBG Group Mel Dick, Vice-president for Southern Wines & Spirits and the President of the wine división Miguel Torres, president of Bodegas Miguel Torres, Nicola Jenkin,WRAP Oz Clarke Pancho Campo MW, founder of The Wine Academy of Spain Paul Pontallier, Château Margaux Quim Vila, founder and CEO of Vilaviniteca Richard Halstead, Wine Intelligence Robert Joseph Robert Parker Robin Kelley O´Connor, director of Sales and Education for Sherry-Lehmann Ryan Opaz Catavino.net Steven Spurrier Troy Christensen, president of Constellation Brands Europe, Ulf Sjodin MW, wine consultant Don St. Pierre, Jr. the Chief Executive Officer of ASC Fine Wines Tim Hanni MW, CWE, CEO of the Napa Seasoning Company LLC Rafael Ansón, president of Honor of the International Academy of Gastronomy and President of the Spanish Royal Academy of Gastronomy Victor Pascual, presidente de la Organización Interprofesional y del Consejo Regulador de la D.O.Ca. Rioja. Consejero y Director de Relaciones Institucionales de Domecq Bodegas. Presidente del Grupo de Empresas Vinícolas de Rioja.(FER/CEOE) Xavier Pagés Font, general manager for Grupo Codorníu
There is, of course, no suggestion that any of the speakers or sponsors of WineFuture Rioja09 had any involvement in the fraud in Dubai. Indeed it is highly unlikely that any would have known who Pancho Campo was at that time.
There is a delicious irony here. Spain was once a haven for the British criminal fraternity until the Spanish authorities clamped down. Now, however, Spanish wine appears to be welcoming a convicted fraudster with open arms. First with WineFuture Rioja09 followed by Vinoble 2010, the sweet wine festival held biannually in Jerez.
“We are awaiting the definitive legal response.” But what legal response is this, pray? Pancho Campo was found guilty on 1st June 2003 of breach of contract – fraud and sentenced a year in jail, followed by deportation.
Since the end of August PC has claimed to have a team of lawyers in Spain and Washington sorting this out. Are they appealing against the sentence? They originally claimed this was all a ghastly mistake? A miscarriage of justice! Perhaps, but so far not a shred of evidence, to show that this is the case.
Both the criminal and civil cases against Pancho Campo are over – apparently there are no new fresh cases listed, so where is the wriggle room for the lawyers and for Pancho?
Doubtless Pancho’s posse of lawyers are working to good purpose but the only thing I’m aware of them doing is to have threatened American wine writer, Gerry Dawes, for looking into Pancho and his Interpol Red Notice.
There is, of course, one definitive legal response: for Pancho Campo MW to return to Dubai to serve his one year prison sentence.
“He didn’t know about the case and was tried in absentia.” How many people are charged in court with breach of faith involving a sum of 640,000€, surrender their passport presumably with their visa that allows them to work in the UAE, abscond from the country while awaiting trial and then forget all about the criminal charge until several years later when a red notice is issued by Interpol following a request from Dubai/United Arab Emirates? A parking ticket perhaps but a six figure fraud ...!
“It's a business dispute!” True there was civil case as well brought by Jackie Wartanian, Pancho’s business partner in Dubai, through her lawyer – Amma Al Jallaf of Ince & Co (Dubai) – but the fraud conviction relates to a criminal charge.
“It all happened in another country … and has nothing to do with wine.” This just doesn’t hold water. Pancho is still in the same line of business promoting events – this time it’s wine before, in Dubai, it was music and sports events. The only difference is that the egos of top music stars may be more fragile than those of wine industry luminaries.
Follow the money trail is an old adage: 2003 Pancho Campo absconds from Dubai, is convicted of a substantial fraud and sets up The Wine Academy of Spain. “No link with wine, here.” Really! Then why won't Pancho Campo MW answer the simple question – what was the source of the money used to set up The Wine Academy in 2003?
Furthermore I’ve seen enough of fraud trials in the UK to be aware that fraudsters have transferable skills.
Also Pancho has gone out of his way, when building brand Campo, to use some of his past – participant in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games (coach to the one strong Chilean women’s team), organiser of Dubai concerts for Pink Floyd (the band have never played Dubai/UAE), etc.
"This is just being stirred up by people, who don't like him or are jealous of his success." This is just a smokescreen – a diversionary tactic. Pancho Campo MW may well have his enemies – successful, dynamic people often have their detractors. However, the conviction and jail sentence for fraud in Dubai isn't an invention nor is the possibility that The Wine Academy of Spain was wholly or, in part, founded on the proceeds of fraud. Pancho the solution to the speculation over the funding of the Academy is in your hands – answer the questions.
"It has all been got up by the foreign press." Pancho Campo's conviction has had more coverage outside Spain but this is only because the quiescent Spain press have preferred to hold their noses, look the other way and peddle the transparent fiction that what happened in Dubai has nothing to do with wine in Spain.
•
I would have more sympathy with Pancho Campo if his claims weren’t such an elaborate confection of falsehoods and facts so elasticated that they often bear a similar relationship as that between a bubble car and a stretch limo.
In addition to Pink Floyd and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, claims about being ‘personally trained by Al Gore’ in climate change turn out to be far from a studious chat with the great man in a book-lined library but instead one of 200 or so people at a seminar in Seville. ‘Studied winemaking at the University of California at Davis’ – yes, two correspondence courses.
A doctor of medicine, as claimed on Pancho Campo's Wine Future presentation (in Spanish), pt 1 by Zev Robinson (http://vimeo.com/4858630) ("Como medico que soy. . ." 9.40 mins in). Pancho may have studied medicine in the Dominican Republic but there appears to be no record of him qualifying.
I emailed some questions to Pancho Campo MW yesterday. Unfortunately I have received no reply from Pancho, nor to questions emailed to him on 6th October 2009. In particular he has declined to answer probably the most crucial question – what was the source of the finance used to set up the Wine Academy of Spain in 2003. Thus it remains unknown whether any proceeds from the fraud in Dubai were used to establish the Wine Academy of Spain.
Copy of a letter emailed to Pancho Campo MW yesterday.
27th October 2009
Dear Pancho
I’m sorry not to have received a response to my email of 6th October 2009) outlining the contents of the postings on Jim’s Loire (7th October 2009 – Pancho Campo – the essence and Pancho Campo – timeline.
As I have had no response to neither my email nor to the two postings on Jim’s Loire, I assume you that are not contesting that the following events/facts are correct.
5th June 2002: You were charged with breach of trust in a Dubai court involving 640,000€. This is a criminal offence. You surrendered your Chilean passport to the court. There was also a civil case brought by Jackie Wartanian through her lawyer Amma Al Jallaf of Ince & Co (Dubai). Both the criminal and civil cases are now closed.
February 2003: You left Dubai fully aware that you had been charged and that you would be facing a trial, although the date of the trial may not have been fixed at the time you left. You left Dubai using your Spanish passport.
1st June 2003: You were found guilty in absentia of breach of trust (fraud on the Interpol website) and sentenced to one year in prison to be followed by deportation
2003 The Wine Academy of Spain was founded.
•
There are still some questions that I would like to ask you please:
a) When you were based in Dubai (UAE) did you have a tourist or a work visa? Was this visa in your Chilean passport?
b) How did you leave Dubai in February 2003 – plane, boat or overland? Did you indeed use your Spanish passport? What type of UAE/Dubai visa was in it – tourist or work? How did you obtain a second visa?
c) What was the name of your lawyer in Dubai?
d) What was the outcome of the civil case?
e) (question not published)
f) What was the source of the founding of The Wine Academy of Spain when it was set up in 2003? Was any of the 640,000€ on which you were convicted of breach of trust (fraud) in Dubai (1st June 2003) used to establish The Wine Academy of Spain?
g) Does any profit made by WineFuture Rioja09 go to The Wine Academy of Spain?
h) Pancho Campo's Wine Future presentation (in Spanish), pt 1 by Zev Robinson (http://vimeo.com/4858630) you claim to be a doctor ("Como medico que soy. . ." 9.40 mins in). Where did you study, where did you qualify and when? Have you ever practised as a doctor?
i) You say that when you travel to Chile you use a Chilean passport. How did you obtain a new Chilean passport when your old one had been surrendered to a Dubai court?
k) How do your lawyers expect to do anything about your conviction for fraud? Are you considering an appeal and, if so, on what grounds?
I will be making a new post on Jim’s Loire at noon (UK time) tomorrow (28th Oct).
Spanish expert Gerry Dawes has a detailed posting here on his blog about the continuing Pancho Campo MW saga and the unanswered questions that swirl around him. Gerry reveals that he is the American journalist warned in early September by Campo's lawyer, Alfonso Martínez:
'Two days later, on September 2, as described below, I received a phone call threatening various actions from someone saying he was Alfonso Martínez, Pancho Campo's lawyer. This was followed by an e-mail by Martínez to the same third party e-mail address requesting a meeting with me the following week in New York. The Decanter article was published on Sept. 4. So far, I heard from nothing more from Martínez.'
I have still received no reply from Pancho Campo MW to my questions asking him how he left Dubai in February 2003 having surrendered his Chilean passport to a Dubai court following being charged with breach of trust in June 2002. Nor any answer to the source of the finance used to set up the Wine of Academy of Spain in 2003 soon after Campo appears to have absconded from Dubai rather than face a trial. The Wine Academy stands to gain any profit generated by the forthcoming WineFuture Rioja09 conference, which may be as much as one million euros as Gerry Dawes indicates:
'Campo's The Wine Academy of Spain is still the organizer of the event and still stands to profit from the revenues. On the Wine Academy website, a statement says that WineFuture-Rioja 2009 is the propiedad (property) of The Wine Academy. Some reports emanating from La Rioja place The Wine Academy's gross profit on the WineFuture Rioja 2009 conference at 1,000,000 Euros (approximately $1,500,000) and others have placed Robert Parker's fee for appearing at the conference at 100,000 Euros ($150,000).'
The post also includes a number of videos praising Pancho Campo MW.
WineFuture Rioja09: 12th-13th November 2009 in Logroño. This is one of the most high profile wine conference ever held involving a host of luminaries including Robert Parker, making his first visit to Spain since he was a student, Jancis Robinson MW, Miguel Torres, Robert Joseph, Steven Spurrier, Dan Jago (Tesco), Gary Vaynerchuk, Mel Dick (vice-president for Southern Wines & Spirits), Troy Christensen (president of Constellation Brands Europe), Oz Clarke, Paul Pontallier (Château Margaux), Ryan Opaz, Tim Hanni MW and Rafael Ansón. The conference is the brainchild of Pancho Campo MW and his Wine Academy of Spain.
However over the summer 2009 it emerged that there is a warrant for the arrest of Pancho Campo for fraud issued in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and a red notice on Interpol’s website naming him as a fugitive from justice.
Adam Lechmere and I broke the story on decanter.com on 4th September 2009. On 19th September it emerged that Pancho Campo had been sentenced in Dubai to a year’s imprisonment in June 2003 to be followed by deportation.
On September 1st PC started to contact the speakers at WineFuture Rioja09.In his email he claimed: ‘However, it has been brought to my attention, approximately two months ago that I have a case pending in Dubai regarding the dissolution of the mentioned company. Apparently, in July 2003 I was due to appear in court in Dubai.’ Describing ‘this unjust and unfair situation’ he asked for the participants ‘support and understanding.
Certainly he has continued to have support from people like Jancis Robinson MW, Steven Spurrier and Robert Joseph as well as Siobhan Turner, executive director of the Institute of Masters of Wine.
Much of the circumstances of the court case remain unclear. This much is known:
5th June 2002: Pancho Campo is charged in Dubai with breach of trust following a complaint by his business partner – Jackie Wartanian. The misappropriation of 640,000€ was alleged. Campo surrenders his Chilean passport to a Dubai court.
February 2003: Campo and his family leave the United Arab Emirates.
1st June 2003: Campo found guilty in absentia of breach of trust and is sentenced to a year in prison to be followed by deportation.
2008: Interpol red notice is issued
March 2009: Campo questioned by French immigration official at Charles de Gaulle in relation to the Interpol red notice and the Dubai court case.
Some of Pancho Campo MW's defenders have claimed that this is purely a business dispute between ex-business partners. This is not correct: fraud is a criminal offence and if this were purely a civil matter Interpol would not be involved and PC presumably would not have been detained by the French immigration authorities at Charles de Gaulle Airport in March 2009 nor apparently by Spanish police in a leading Madrid hotel earlier this year. Equally ,if it was a civil matter, it is unlikely that PC would have had to hand over his Chilean passport to a Dubai court.
According to The National (19th September 2009) 'Ms Wartanian’s lawyer, Amna Jallaf, said a civil case had also been filed against Campo'.
••
Miscarriage of justice! Pancho Campo and his defenders have suggested that he is a victim of a flawed justice system in the United Arab Emirates. Not a shred of evidence has been put forward to support this claim. Vicente Cacho, the Spanish Consul in the UAE, is very far from leaping to PC's defence. I suspect he would prefer that Pancho Campo returned to the UAE and for justice to take its course. This smearing of the legal procedures of the UAE rather conveniently ignores the regrettably not infrequent miscarriages of justice that occur in the UK and the US.
Above is the essence what follows is a timeline attempting to tease out the background to these events.
Pancho Campo MW (full name: Francisco Armando Campo Carrasco)
Date of Birth: 13/09/1961 Santiago, Chile
Born close to the time of the start of the legendary 1961 Bordeaux vintage.
Moves to Barcelona, Spain when he was 13.
1992 participant in the Olympic Games of Barcelona Pancho was a tennis professional with no ITP ranking. He was coach to the Chilean women’s team Paulina Sepúlveda (born 15th September 1968). Beaten in first round 6-2, 6-3 by the Italian Anna-Maria ("Sandra") Cecchini.
1997-2003: Moves to Dubai and sets up an event management company originally called CSS (Connection Sports Services, although it may have initially been called DDS – DSS Sports Management Group) later called CSM (Connections Sports and Music) running sports and music events including concerts by Enrique Iglesias, Tom Jones, Sting and the Vienna Boys’ Choir (26th September 2000)
PC’s CV: ‘Former President and CEO of CSM, event management company with whom he organized and managed Davis Cup, the World Cup of Indoor Trials, the Pro Beach Soccer World Tour and events with Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg, Emilio and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Eric Cantona, Pink Floyd, Sting, Enrique Iglesias, Tom Jones and Jamiroquai amongst many others.‘
1997: DDS Sports Management Tennis Director and Coach at the Aviation Club and trainer of the Junior Tennis Team in Dubai.(www.alshindagah.com/august/tennis.htm)
1998 September ‘Sports Academy Emirates International School, owned by Al Habtoor Group, is currently hosting the Adidas Sports Academy. In its third year at Emirates International School, the Academy provides youngsters with sports coaching in tennis, basketball, soccer, swimming, karate and gymnastics. The camps are run by Connection Sports Services which is headed by Pancho Campo, a former professional tennis player. "The emphasis at the Adidas Sports Academy is on participation, not just winning" said Campo. The academy, apart from providing coaching, aims to promote fair play among the participants and Campo says it is just as important to take part as win. "Just because a kid is not the best footballer or gymnast, it doesn't mean he or she shouldn't practice that sport," said Campo. All participants receive an award for their performances and coaching is provided by staff qualified in the relevant disciplines. Although there is no set age to take part in the camps, most participants range from 5 to 17 years. The Academy runs throughout the year and is split into 3 terms, September-December, January-March and April-June, plus the summer camp.
If you would like to take part in the Adidas Sports Academy at Emirates International School, contact Connections Sports Services on +971-4-329811.’
Also claimed in the biography released (see end of doc) by the Institute of Masters of Wine when PC became an MW to have coached the Qatari Davis Cup tennis team. (The Qatari team won promotion from their group in 1992 and 1997.)Not mentioned in later CVs.
2000: Jackie Wartanian joins the company injecting $1million into the organisation.
PC’s explanation: ‘In 2000, a former client offered to buy some shares into the company and got involved with us.’
Speculation: did Wartanian bring knowledge of the music industry into the company? Certainly all of the larger concerts appear to have been from 2000. Or was it that the injection of capital from Wartanian allowed CSM to mount more ambitious events. Did company also change its name from Connections Sports Services to Connections Sports & Music when Wartanian became involved
Dates of some concerts arranged 26th September 2000: Vienna Boys’ Choir 1st October 2000 Enrique Iglesias 1st March 2001: Tom Jones 19th-20th April 2001: Sting
PC claims to have held events for Pink Floyd and Jamiroquai.
Comment: I can find no record of Pink Floyd having ever performed in the UAE, although Roger Waters has performed there twice in 15th April 2002 (Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Dubai, United Arab Emirates) and 21st February 2007 (RW Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates). Jamiroquai played in the UAE on 10th October 2002. (This is after PC had been charged and after CSM went bust.) The current CSM site makes no mention of concerts by Roger Waters or Jamiroquai.
2002 Connections Sports and Music goes bust – date unknown.
PC”s comment: ‘Unfortunately, due to the September 11th attacks on NY, it was impossible to get artists and athletes to travel to the Middle East. Sponsors pulled out and the business ended up closing down in early 2002.’
Complaint filed Also in 2002 Jackie Wartanian filed a complaint against Pancho Campo which alleged that he had defrauded the company of 640,000€.
5th June: Pancho Campo charged in Dubai Court with breach of trust.
Report (19th September 2009) from The National (an English language newspaper published by the Abu Dhabi Media Company PJSC). ‘According to court documents, Campo was charged with breach of trust on June 5, 2002, found guilty on June 1, 2003, and sentenced to one year in jail followed by deportation. The case revolved around a €600,000 (Dh3.2m) claim that Ms Wartanian had brought against Campo over fraudulent business dealings. Ms Wartanian’s lawyer, Amna Jallaf, said a civil case had also been filed against Campo.’
PC comment: This money was used to pay Enrique Iglesias for the concert he played in Dubai.
Vicente Cacho, the Spanish Consul in the United Arab Emirates, says that ‘Pancho Campo left his Chilean passport at a Dubai court as proof he wasn't going to flee the country and then did so with a Spanish passport’.
Speculation and questions It would seem likely that CSM (Connections Sports and Music went bust before 5th June 2002. Was it also at this time that Pancho surrendered his Chilean passport to a Dubai court? I note that Roger Waters, Deep Purple (22nd September) and Jamiroquai played in Dubai during 2002, although PC claimed that ‘it was impossible to get artists and athletes to travel to the Middle East’. Did the missing 640,000€ contribute to the collapse of the company and, if so, to what extent?
•
2003 February: Pancho Campo and family leave Dubai
PC in email to WineFuture Rioja09 participants 1.9.09: ‘In February of 2003 my wife, my daughter and I decided to return to Spain because we no longer had a business and the war in Iraq was imminent. ‘Before leaving, we informed the Spanish Embassy that we were moving back to Spain in case I was needed to be contacted.
Vicente Cacho, Spanish Consul in UAE: “Campo at all times hid from the Spanish authorities the difficulties he was in. He also says, "He (Campo) knew perfectly well what he was doing and it is clear to me he had a total lack of intention of resolving the legal problem he had created."
Cacho regrets that the U.A.E. do not inform consulates of nationals who get into trouble with the law, hence they only became aware of the difficulties Campo was in through events as they unfolded. That's the way the police operated out there, he said. If an individual doesn't communicate the problem him or herself, they can only find out subsequently.
PC: ‘I was declared absconding’’ PC email 1.9.09).Given the circumstances ‘absconding’ looks to be the right word.
Speculation and comment Apparently Campo left UAE using his Spanish passport. What happened to the Chilean passport PC had handed over to a Dubai court? It seems high probable that Campo's Chilean passport contained his UAE visa (presumably work as Campo lived in Dubai from 1997 to 2003), which was why it was surrendered as surety. Did his Spanish passport also contain a visa or did he somehow obtain a visa for this passport after he had surrendered his Chilean one? It is not known how Pancho Campo left the UAE – it is possible that he would have taken a boat to Iran.
On 5th October 2009 the Consul General of Chile in Spain confirmed that Campo has a current Chilean passport. How was a fresh Chilean passport obtained? Another question Pancho Campo MW has declined to answer,
Also: El Mercurio Domingo 30 de Noviembre de 2008 Article on Pancho Campo, the first Chilean Master of Wine A pesar de residir en Marbella -en la costa del sol, España-, su marcado acento y su pasaporte español, cuando viene a Chile a ver a parientes y a esquiar utiliza su documento chileno.(Although resident in Marbella, when Pancho comes to Chile he uses his Chilean travel documents.) (diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id={a28c4258-ca3c-499d-a519-5d333fd1fd73})
1st June: Pancho Campo found guilty in absentia of Breach of Trust, which is the legal equivalent of wilful misappropriation, embezzlement or breach of fiduciary duty, a criminal offence. Sentenced to a year in prison followed by deportation.
PC (email 1.9.09 to speakers at WineFuture Rioja) : ‘However, it has been brought to my attention, approximately two months ago that I have a case pending in Dubai regarding the dissolution of the mentioned company. Apparently, in July 2003 I was due to appear in court in Dubai to answer charges of fraud involving the mentioned partnership that went wrong. Because I was already living in Spain I was never informed of such court hearing and I was declared absconding.'
Speculation and comment While PC may not have been aware of the date set for the trial hearing, he was in Dubai when the charge was laid in June 2002 and surrendered his Chilean passport.Nor did apparently did he inform the Spanish Embassy in Dubai that he had a criminal charge outstanding.
•
The Wine Academy of Spain (www.thewineacademy.com) founded by Melissa and Pancho Campo. On 4th-5th June 2004 The Wine Academy CIE Marbella held the 1st Simposium InternacionalDel Vino at the Hotel Puente Romano, Marbella. Speakers included Alejandro Fernández (Pesquera), Carlos Falcó, José Penin, Jancis Robinson MW and Miguel Torres.
The second Simposium Internacional del Vino was held in the auditorium of CIE Marbella from 3rd-5th June 2005 and organised by The Wine Academy. Speakers included Alvaro Palacios, Su Birch, Miguel Torres, Peter Sissack, Dr Richard Smart, Michael Cox (Wines of Chile), John Radford and Stéphane Derenoncourt.
The Wine Academy of Spain has subsequently organised a number of conferences including the Climate Change and Wine in Barcelona 15th-16th February 2008 (www.climatechangeandwine.com) and the forthcoming WineFuture Rioja 2009. A further Climate Change & Wine conference is planned for 2010 and the Wine Academy is the organiser of Vinoble 2010. The Academy is a WSET Approved Programme Provider. APPs run courses but they do not issue WSET certificates. This is done by the WSET themselves.
Speculation: The Wine Academy of Spain was founded soon after PC arrived in Spain. Was any of the 640,000€ over which PC was found in breach of trust used to finance The Wine Academy?
PC’s Email of 1.9.09: ‘my case that was a financial dispute, totally outside of the wine industry and in a country that is becoming known for its judicial abuses’.
•
2002/2003 (date unknown): Jackie Wartanian founds Center Stage Management with her sister, Lara Teperdjian. Jackie and Lara are Armenians, who have lived in the UAE for 30 years and have apparently organised concerts since 1999. Their father was in the music business.CSM have organised various concerts and other media events including the annual Dessert Rock Festival in Dubai, whose first edition was 2004.
2004 (date unknown) CIE Marbella, University of Costa del Sol is established with Pancho Campo as business manager and Melissa Butler in an undefined role. Campo was described as business manager in the prospectus but his generally used title was director. CIE or the Centre for International Education offered university degrees, MBAs and numerous courses across a range of subjects. The CIE prospectus can be downloaded here Various courses on wine were offered – leading to WSET accreditation, Master en Enología and Christie's Wine Courses (page 9 of prospectus). 'After "O" Levels University Degrees now available in Marbella' was a highlighted claim.
CIE Marbella claimed an affiliation with Middlesex University as this quote from a student explains:
"I want a degree in management because I want to work in my father's business in Marbella. In the end, I have decided upon Middlesex University in the UKbecause it's close to home ...and my parents agreed.
The main factor in my decision making has been that I can begin my studies locally at CIE Marbella...which has an affiliation with Middlesex. At the end of my two years in Marbella, I will transfer into the 2nd year of my Middlesex' Three-Year Honours Degree in Management. This way I can shorten my stay in the UK and reduce my family's expenses.
CIE Marbella also provides all the help required for my Middlesex admission and transfer. Best of all, I don't need A levels to begin my studies."
Middlesex University does not have a degree course called 'Management', although they do they one called Business Administration Degree (honours). This is a three-year and is said to be ‘ideal for students who want to start their own business or work in a family business.’ Its entry requirements are : ‘We normally require 200-280 tariff points for entry onto undergraduate courses. However, some degrees may require additional entry requirements, for example a portfolio or an audition.’ The tarif points refer to the UCAS system used to calculate equivalence between examinations for entry to UK universities. GCSEs, School Certificate and O levels carry no tariff points.
CIE Marbella claimed: 'A University Transfer Program That Works!! Centre for International Education of Marbella ................Gateway to the world's top universities
aguidaempresa.com carried an article on the new institution here with the claim that CIE had links with prestigious universities in the US, England, Canada and Spain. Also claiming more than 30 years educational experience in Spain and elsewhere and more than a 1000 alumni in Malaysia, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka and London.
There was also an earlier article (Sur in English) 23rd/24th April 2004 by Joaquina Dueñas about the new educational establishment due to open at the beginning of the new school year . She noted that 'to the surprise of its director, Pancho Campo, 50 per cent of the applicants are Spanish, attracted by the prestige of earning a foreign degree'.
She reported that 'At CIE Marbella, students can do the first two years of a foreign degree course without leaving Spain and then go on to complete the course at a university with which the CIE has an agreement, such as Middlesex University in the UK, or Broward University and Southern New Hampshire University in the US.'
Dueñas also reported that 'The Centre has more than 20 foreign lecturers, most of who have a Master's degree in their specialist subject' and that the cost for a semester was 3600€, intensive English courses at 3200€ and non-university courses at 3000€.
CIE was based in Elvira some 15 minutes from the centre of Marbella and boasted 'brand new facilities including classrooms, library, Internet lab, student and faculty lounges, computerised classrooms and on-line library'.
From the archive of Dr Richard Smart's website there is a mention of Pancho Campo – 'the tour will be accompanied by Dr Smart, and an expert translator Pancho Campo of the Wine Academy, CIE Marbella, University of Costa Del Sol'.
It is not known whether CIE ever opened its door or whether there were graduates that went on to obtain degrees from major universities. Certainly CIE doesn't appear to exist today. The web domain is up for sale and there is no telephone listed in either Elvira or Marbella. Perhaps CIE shed the other courses and concentrated purely on wine as The Wine Academy of Spain. CIE does not appear to be mentioned in any of Pancho Campo's CV's that I have seen.
I'm hoping that 'Doctor' Campo can enlighten me.
Autumn Pancho Campo begins studying for his MW
2004/2005: PC does two Davis Extension on-line courses (distance learning) on oenology.
Unknown date PC: * Personally trained by Vice-president Al Gore and member of The Climate Project.
Spokesperson for Al Gore: ‘Mr. Campos was one of nearly 200 people trained in Spain at a session hosted by The Climate Project. Former Vice President Gore did conduct the training.’ It is understood that the training session was in Seville.
The Climate Project website (http://www.theclimateproject.org/) reports that there are now more than 3000 trained Climate Change Project presenters.
2007 Pancho Campo announces on The Wine Academy site that he is withdrawing from his MW studies:
'After 3 years as a student of the Institute of Masters of Wine and having passed most of his practical and theory exams as well as his dissertation, Pancho Campo has decided to withdraw from the programme.
Pancho Campo has been the Spaniard that has obtained the best results in trying to become a Master of Wine. Last year he obtained a conditional pass after passing all his practical exams and the theory exams on viticulture, oenology and marketing. This year Pancho passed his disseration but failed to pass the only exam that separated him from becomming the first Spanish Master of Wine. The reason behind his decission for withdrawing from the programme lies on the topic of the question that the examiners did not pass. The question asked Pancho´s opinion on the impacts of climate change for the wine industry.
Pancho Campo has become one of the leading experts and one of the most respected professionals in the research of climate change and a pioneer in describing the impacts for the wine industry. Another contradiction by the IMW is the fact that they gave Pancho a pass on his dissertation which had the topic of “The Impacts of Climate Change in the Wine Industry”. The Institutes agrees with Pancho´s dissertation but totally disagrees with the answer he gave to the same question in the only remaining exam. “The examiners have clearly made a mistake when correcting my exam but I have been denied the opportunity of appealing and having my exam reviewed. I have not had the chance to see why and where I went wrong”. “If the topic of the question would have been any other than climate change I could understand and accept their decission, but on this topic I seriously question the examiner´s point of view”. “Their explanation has been poor and as far as I am concerned this shows that the Institute´s views on climate change are not in touch with the reality of the problem and are especulative”.
“Being an MW could have been very important for my career and I believe it is time to have a Spanish MW because our country is about to become the major driving force of the wine producing industry. However, I am not going to go against my principles and the results of my reseach just to have a degree”. “I have lost respect for the way in which the IMW handles the correction of the exams and I seriously question the capacity of the examiners, at least in relation to climate change”.
Campo changes his mind and is allowed to resit the exam he failed.
June: Marbella court case A civil case brought by Dune Networks Sl, who did work for The Wine Academy of Spain (Pancho Campo) on the ‘Simposium Internacional del Vino’. Dune were hired by the Wine Academy of Spain in June 2006. Dune Networks SL are a subsidiary of VNC-WBC (La Compañía del Vino, Negocio y Comunicación). VNC-WBC filed a civil case against The Wine Academy in Marbella in 2007 seeking to recover an unpaid bill of 8.879,18 €. Judgment was given in VNC-WBC’s favour by a Marbella court on 27th June 2008 ordering the outstanding bill to be paid. Although Pancho Campo has said on www.verema.com/foros/foro-vino/temas/523840-no-es-oro-todo-lo-que-reluce- that the outstanding sum will be paid, it would appear that this debt may yet to be settled. When VNC-WBC was sold in May 2009 (11 months after the judgment), the debt was still outstanding. It is not known whether it has now been settled.
September: Pancho Campo becomes an MW.
2009 March: Pancho Campo is detained for several hours at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris where he was questioned about the Interpol red notice of the arrest warrant issued by the UAE.
decanter.com (2.10.09): ‘Campo admitted that he had spent two hours in French immigration at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris in March, in a 'routine passport check', during which the Interpol warrant was mentioned.’ www.decanter.com/news/news.php?id=290145
PC (email 1.9.09 to speakers at WineFuture Rioja) : ‘However, it has been brought to my attention, approximately two months ago that I have a case pending in Dubai regarding the dissolution of the mentioned company.’ ‘I have put the case in the hands of competent lawyers from Washington and Dubai, and we are liaising closely with the Embassy of Spain in the Emirates.'
The National (19th September 2009) Melissa Campo: “We had no idea there was a court case when we left the UAE,” Mrs Campo said. “We only found out there was an arrest warrant about two months ago. It came as a complete shock. We left Dubai in February 2003 with a valid passport and informed the authorities we were leaving.”
•
During the summer news of the Interpol red notice begins to circulate amongst Spanish wine journalists and Spanish specialists outside Spain. Nothing is published.
31st August: I receive a call from Harold Heckle of Associated Press and a member of the Circle of Wine Writers telling me about the Interpol red notice. I’m surprised. I have never met Pancho Campo and had no reason to suspect that he has a criminal record. However, given the very high profile WineFuture conference, it is an obvious news story, so I contact Adam Lechmere, editor-at-large of Decanter magazine. I’m commissioned to write a news story on the arrest warrant. I email Pancho Campo a series of questions.
September: 1st: I speak to Pancho on the phone – he is friendly and courteous – and I incorporate his comments into the news story. Essentially he tells he that he only learnt of the arrest warrant and the court case four or six weeks ago and that his lawyers in Spain and in Washington hope to sort this out with the next month or so. He confirms that the sum involved was around 600,000€ and that the money had been used to pay Enrique Ingelias for appearing in Dubai. Pancho tells me that he has the full support of those involved in organizing the WineFuture conference.
I tell Pancho that decanter.com will be publishing the story today – in the event it was delayed by calls to lawyers etc. until Friday.
I try without success to phone and email Jackie Wartanian.
Pancho starts to email speakers at the WineFuture conference about the case in Dubai and the arrest warrant.(see email in appendices below)
Following publication, PC phones me and tells me that his lawyers have warned an unnamed American journalist who has been investigating this story.
12th: I receive an email from Pancho Campo asking me whether 'you could be interested in being one of the guest journalists and speakers attending the 2010 edition' for a a tasting of Loire sweet wines. The Wine Academy of Spain is organising the 2010 edition of Vinoble. Although it would be good to see Loire wines featured at Vinoble, my response is that 'Until the situation has been resolved, unfortunately I'm unable to make a decision about attending Vinoble'.
PC's email includes a PS:
My lawyers in Washington DC are confident that my current situation will be solved in my favour in 3 to 5 weeks. In any case, I want you to be aware that regardless of my situation, The Wine Academy of Spain has a team of 12 people working who have the experience of having organized, for example, the Climate Change Conferences in 2006 and 2008, 4 very large wine festivals (Madwine, Barcelona Wine Festival, Marbella Wine Festival, International Wine Symposium), and the very successful Spanish Wine Education programme (www.spainwines.es). Although Initially I founded The Academy and I remain as President, I only have a small proportion of shares in the company. The management and administration are no longer in my hands because I have another very ambitious project that will be announced at Winefuture.
What I am trying to say is that the company is sound, financially viable and totally independent from Pancho Campo. Since Winefuture, Spanish Wine Education, WSET and Vinoble are under the umbrella of The Wine Academy, my situation could only affect this programmes from an image point of view but so far the effect is the contrary, Winefuture is sold out, with a huge waiting list and it has total support from sponsors and speakers.'
19th: The National, an English language paper published in Dubai, publishes a news story by Charlie Hamilton revealing that PC was convicted of Breach of Trust in his absence, sentenced to a year in jail to be followed by deportation.
PC tells decanter.com that he knew nothing about the sentence. ‘Campo vehemently denies knowing anything about the sentence. He told decanter.com the first he heard about it was when it was published in an article in Dubai newspaper The National on 19 September.’‘'The case was tried and I was sentenced in my absence without any legal representation,' Campo told decanter.com.
His lawyer in Dubai told him nothing about the sentence, Campo said, and they have since lost touch. He added that he would not be suing the lawyer because he was 'in no mood to do anything like that'.‘ www.decanter.com/news/news.php?id=290145 (story published 2nd October 2009)
Comment It is possible that PC knew nothing of the sentence until he was detained at Charles de Gaulle in March 2009. It is, however, difficult to credit that ‘competent’ lawyers in Dubai, Spain and Washington were unable to uncover in the six month period following Charles de Gaulle interview that Campo had been sentenced in June 2003. Something that Charlie Hamilton (The National) found without apparent difficulty in Dubai court papers. Campo must have been well aware of the court case as he was charged on 5th June 2002 and surrendered his Chilean passport.
I understand that, although Melissa and the children have visited, PC has never been back to Dubai, although his wife’s parents own the American College of Dubai and Richard Butler, Melissa's father is the chairman of the board, founder and past president of the College. One has to wonder why PC has not been back with his children to see their maternal grandparents.
October 1st: Pancho Campo resigns as director of WineFuture-Rioja `09 and also as the director of the Wine Academy of Spain. Kevin Zraly takes over a director of Winefuture-Rioja `09. Rony Bacqué, Campo’s brother-in-law, has been business manager of The Wine Academy of Spain.
Speculation and comment Following the revelation that PC had a conviction in Dubai, did the wine authorities in Rioja, who are a major sponsor of the conference, demand that he step down? Certainly there are rumours of pressure on PC to resign as they were dissatisfied and unconvinced by his explanations including whether he had been detained by Spanish police in a Madrid hotel earlier on this year, which Pancho has denied.
Zraly was quickly appointed and PC resigned on 1st October. It is not clear how far Pancho Campo will continue to be involved. Will he become the shadow managing-director for WineFuture and The Wine Academy? He and Zraly will moderate Robert Parker’s Grenache tasting. Under current arrangements The Wine Academy is understood to receive any profits made by the conference. Given its profile that may be substantial – some estimate in the region of €1 million.
•
2nd: decanter.com publish a second story covering PC’s resignation. Pancho denied that there was any pressure on him to resign: ‘He also insists that no pressure to resign was put on him by the Rioja Consejo Regulador, which is funding one third of the conference.’ www.decanter.com/news/news.php?id=290145
The Decanter and The National stories allied with PC’s resignation and the publication of the 18 Grenache wines that Robert Parker is due to taste on 12th November without a single Rioja amongst them has stirred up controversy in Spain.
As Rioja is putting up 35% of the money to fund the conference but getting none of any profit made, the absence of any Riojas in Parker’s tasting of Grenache based wines has made some in Rioja very angry, especially as there are five Spanish reds from other regions included. Opposition politicians, in particular Miguel González de Legarra – spokesman for the Partido Riojano, are asking why is the region putting up all this money if its wines are not going to be promoted. Whether the late addition of two Rioja’s Marqués de Riscal de 1945 and Contador 2007, intriguingly described on the WineFuture website as ‘Last Minute’ will be sufficient to clam things down remains to be seen. Apparently neither of the late additions contain any Grenache – compare and contrast, perhaps?
-Pero pesa sobre usted una orden internacional de arresto. -No, es de localización. Y fíjese lo difícil que le ha sido a usted localizarme. Me ha llamado por teléfono, hemos quedado y aquí estoy.
But there is an international arrest warrant issued against you.
No, it's to find me. And see how difficult it was for you to find me. You called me up by phone, we fixed a date and here I am.
-¿Por qué le buscan? -Por algo que sucedió en Emiratos Árabes, cuando yo vivía en Dubai. Allí se rigen por la legislación musulmana y cualquier delito,ya sea por no pagar la hipoteca o por un talón sin fondos, se juzga por la vía penal. Aquí, sin embargo, no sería más que una cuestión civil.
Why are they looking for you?
Over something that happened in the UAE, when I lived in Dubai. They live by Muslim legislation there and any offense (the word can also be translated as "crime"), be it for not paying your mortgage or for a bounced cheque, is tried via the penal code.
-¿Qué es lo que pasó para que le reclamen? -Una ex socia de la empresa que tenía en Dubai puso un dinero en la sociedad, pero ésta quebró y ella reclama ahora el dinero.
What happened for them to be looking for you?
A former partner in a business I had in Dubai put money into the business, but it went bankrupt and she now claims the money.
-¿Ese dinero no le corresponde? -No, porque era una aportación de capital. En esos casos perdemos todos. Yo, personalmente, perdí bastante más, pero ése es el riesgo que se asume.
Doesn't the money belong to her?
No, because it was a capital injection. In cases like those we all lose everything. Personally, I lost a lot more, but that's the risk you take.
-¿Nunca llegó a celebrarse un juicio por eso? -Se fijó un juicio, pero yo no me enteré. No pudieron localizarme porque entonces yo ya no vivía en Dubai y me había venido a España. Se ve que la Justicia de Emirato Árabes me reclama ahora por esto y ha recurrido a la Interpol. Eso es todo. Creo que se está cometiendo una tremenda injusticia conmigo, pero, como le dije, estoy tranquilo.
Was there never a court case over that?
A court case was arranged, but I didn't get to hear about it. They weren't able to find me because I didn't live in Dubai anymore and had come to live in Spain. It can be seen that the Justice of the UAE is now looking for me and has gone to Interpol. That's all. I think a tremendous injustice has been committed against me, but as I said to you, I'm calm.
•••
November 12-13th WineFuture Rioja09 held in Logrono with Robert Parker as main attraction.
Next edition of WineFuture provisionally fixed for 27th and 28th October 2011.
23rd: Pancho Campo MW to Jim Budd: 23.11.09 ‘Please don’t feel I am ignoring you. My lawyers in Washington, Dubai and Spain have strongly advised me not no disclose any information.
They are getting close to seeing some light and don’t want to jeopardize their efforts. Also, the authorities involved have asked for silence and discretion until further notice.
Trust me, you will be first one I will contact as soon as I am given permission to speak.
I am innocent and I will prove my innocence. As a member of the wine community who has tried to contribute to the industry, I would appreciate some support and the benefit of the doubt. If Decanter is willing to, when this ordeal gets to an end I will be happy to give you the story.’
21st July 2010
Pancho Campo MW name is removed from the list of wanted fugitives on the Interpol internet site. Unclear what is now the status of his conviction and sentence from June 2003 in Dubai.
(I’m very grateful for the assistance of number of people in putting this timeline together in particular Harold Heckle of Associated Press in Madrid.)
••
Appendices
Pancho Campo CV on Institute of Masters of Wine site
* First Spanish Master of Wine.
* President and founder of The Wine Academy of Spain.
* Recommended Tutor for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
* Studied winemaking at the University of California at Davis.
* Founder World Conference on Climate Change & Wine.
* Founder of the Spanish Wine Education certification program.
* Personally trained by Vice-president Al Gore and member of The Climate Project.
* Founder of WineFuture 2009.
* Attended Medical School.
* Former President and CEO of CSM, event management company with whom he organized and managed Davis Cup, the World Cup of Indoor Trials, the Pro Beach Soccer World Tour and events with Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg, Emilio and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Eric Cantona, Pink Floyd, Sting, Enrique Iglesias, Tom Jones and Jamiroquai amongst many others.
* Former tennis professional and participant in the Olympic Games of Barcelona 92.
•
Biography released when PC became an MW (September 2008) Francisco (Pancho) Campo Carrasco, 48. Born in Chile and brought up in Barcelona from the age of 13, Pancho has had an exciting career. He began as a tennis pro and trained as a doctor, before turning to event management, which he combined with coaching the Qatari Davis Cup tennis team. He has had a longstanding love of wine, which eventually became a career in 2003 when he started the Wine Academy of Spain, having studied winemaking and marketing at UC Davis. Pancho is a passionate speaker on climate change, and has done much to raise the global wine industry’s awareness of the problem, working closely with former US Vice President Al Gore as a member of the Climate Project. Pancho is married to Melissa, and has two children. His hobbies include skiing, body building and restaurants.
••
Email1st September from PC to speakers at WineFuture Rioja 09
Dear XXXXX,
I want to inform you personally about a delicate issue that is affecting me and my family. Because you are a participant in WineFuture-Rioja `09 I believe it is important for me that you become aware of this situation, directly from me and not through a 3rd party. It is the minimum I can do after all the trust you have put in me and in The Wine Academy of Spain.
Between 1997 and 2002 I lived in Dubai where my wife, her family and I had an event management company specialized in musical and sporting events. In 2000, a former client offered to buy some shares into the company and got involved with us. Unfortunately, due to the September 11th attacks on NY, it was impossible to get artists and athletes to travel to the Middle East. Sponsors pulled out and the business ended up closing down in early 2002.
In February of 2003 my wife, my daughter and I decided to return to Spain because we no longer had a business and the war in Iraq was imminent. Before leaving, we informed the Spanish Embassy that we were moving back to Spain in case I was needed to be contacted. Since then, I have been living in Marbella, working at The Wine Academy of Spain and traveling around the world promoting Spanish wines and helping create awareness about climate change, as you may know.
However, it has been brought to my attention, approximately two months ago that I have a case pending in Dubai regarding the dissolution of the mentioned company. Apparently, in July 2003 I was due to appear in court in Dubai to answer charges of fraud involving the mentioned partnership that went wrong. Because I was already living in Spain I was never informed of such court hearing and I was declared absconding. At the same time an Interpol notice was requested. I have put the case in the hands of competent lawyers from Washington and Dubai, and we are liaising closely with the Embassy of Spain in the Emirates. My family, who also owns the American College of Dubai is also assisting in the matter.
I was not aware also that there are hundreds of cases such as this in Dubai that are constantly being exposed by British and American media about people who carried out business in this part of the world and have been issued Interpol notices.
Since I am convinced that sooner or later this issue will become public I wanted to inform you personally of the situation. My lawyers, both in the US and in Dubai are confident that it will be resolved very soon in my favor and my name cleared. I am contacting all the speakers and sponsors of Winefuture to let them know about my case that was a financial dispute, totally outside of the wine industry and in a country that is becoming known for its judicial abuses. I also want to emphasize that this issue is personal and has no relationship with The Wine Academy or WineFuture.
So far I have received the total support from all our sponsors and speakers towards me and my family to help us deal with this unjust and unfair situation. I would like to ask you for your support and I thank you in advance for your understanding.
Feel free to phone me is you need further information (+34 609348287).
See you in Rioja!
Pancho Campo MW.
••
Thread on a discussion forum covering Marbella court case
Un juzgado de Marbella condena por impago a The Wine Academy of Spain, cuyo administrador único es Pancho Campo
Un juzgado de Marbella condena por impago a The Wine Academy of Spain, cuyo administrador único es Pancho Campo. Se trata de una demanda por reclamación de cantidad interpuesta por Dune Networks, S.L. (VNC-WBC) en 2006
El juzgado de Primera Instancia nº 1 de Marbella (Málaga) ha condenado a The Wine Academy of Spain S.L. —cuyo administrador único es Pancho Campo (Francisco Campo)— a pagar 8.879,18 €, más los intereses de demora, así como a satisfacer las costas del proceso judicial, a VNC-WBC (La Compañía del Vino, Negocio y Comunicación), por el impago de la prestación de una serie de servicios, entre ellos los relativos a la elaboración, edición e impresión de la revista oficial, el catálogo, diversas creatividades publicitarias y plan de medios del ‘Barcelona Wine Festival’, evento organizado por la empresa condenada.
La historia se remonta a Junio de 2006, cuando The Wine Academy of Spain S.L. encargó a VNC-WBC la elaboración de la revista oficial del ‘Simposium Internacional del Vino’, cuya nueva denominación pasó a ser ‘Barcelona Wine Festival’. Junto a la revista, que se distribuyó entre todos los asistentes al evento, se elaboraron también un tríptico informativo y un anexo con la relación de las bodegas expositoras. Asimismo, se contrató una cuña publicitaria en una emisora de radio barcelonesa.
Aunque esas labores fueron llevadas a cabo con total corrección —tanto en su ejecución como en el cumplimiento de los plazos establecidos— y obtuvieron la aprobación de Pancho Campo (algo que la sentencia refleja textualmente: “los trabajos encargados fueron realizados por el demandante [VNC-WBC] puntualmente y a entera satisfacción del demandado [The Wine Academy of Spain]”), el pago de las correspondientes facturas nunca llegó a hacerse.
La argumentación de la titular del Juzgado de 1ª Instancia nº 1 de Marbella es de una lógica aplastante: si la propia demandada admite la efectiva y satisfactoria prestación de los servicios cuyo pago se reclama, procede estimar la demanda, independientemente de cualquier otra cuestión surgida a posteriori entre las partes y sin que exista base jurídica alguna para considerar una supuesta compensación solicitada por la demandada. La justicia da así plena razón a VNC-WBC, estimando íntegramente su reclamación.
Contra esta sentencia cabe interponer recurso de apelación ante la Audiencia Provincial de Málaga, que ha sido anunciado, si bien la argumentación del fallo deja muy poco margen para que el mismo prospere.
Siobhan Turner Says: I am relieved and pleased to see such balanced and fair reporting on this matter. Pancho Campo MW is a leader in his field, and has been open about this matter with all those who have dealings with him. It is a very difficult time for him and his family, and it is good to see the wine community supporting him as he has supported it for many years. Siobhan Turner Executive Director Institute of Masters of Wine
From 7 days another version of the story. (NB Photos of PC were added to the Interpol site on morning of 4th September 2009. Previously there were no photos on PC's wanted page.)
Pancho Campo, director of the prestigious Wine Academy in Barcelona, is wanted for the alleged fraud involving payments to Iglesias for an appearance in Dubai.
“A friend happened to see my wanted poster on the Interpol web site. I could not believe it,” he told 7DAYS from his home in Madrid, Spain.
Campo, who attracted Andre Agassi, Eric Cantona, Sting and many other major celebs to the emirate, says he had a bitter row with his former Dubai business partner. He says she paid dhs3.2 million to Inglesias for a concert at Dubai’s Aviation Club in exchange for a 40 per cent stake in Campo’s promotion company. But Campo claims the company went bust and he left the UAE for a new life in Spain.
Dubai police contacted international police agency, Interpol, after receiving a complaint about the matter.
Campo said he was shocked to see his wanted photo, which shows him posing outside a London vintner’s school after receiving one of the world’s highest awards for wine appreciation. “It was one of the happiest days of my life. To see my photo used on a wanted poster is really shocking,” he said.
Campo said he will not voluntarily return to the UAE to face the fraud charge. Campo, known for his dapper style, is now running wine schools and wine conferences for the rich and famous.
Al Gore spoke at one recent conference, while some of the biggest names in the wine business come to Campo’s yearly Spanish shows. “It’s embarrassing for me personally but I have nothing to hide. I’ll talk to anyone about this,” he said.
He has hired a high-powered team of Washington DC lawyers to deal with the case. His former business partner now runs a Dubai-based events company.
Châteuneauf-du-Pape – Francia/France 1. Domaine Charvin 2007 2. Marcoux Vieilles Vignes 2007 3. Mont Olivet - La Cuvee du Papet 2007 4. Chapoutier Barbe Rac 2007 5. Barroche Pure 2007 6. Vieille Julienne 2007 7. Pierre Usseglio-Mon Aieul 2007
España/Spain 8. Atteca Armas 2007 – DO Campo de Borja* 9. Mancuso 2005 – Vino de la Tierra de Valdejalón 10. Espectacle 2006 – DO Montsant 11. Clos Erasmus 2005 – DOCa. Priorat 12. Aquilon 2006 – DO Campo de Borja
California 13. Pandora – Alban 2006 14. Sine Qua Non Atlantis 2005
Australia 15. Killikanoon Duke 2006 16. Greenock Creek Cornerstone 2006 17. Clarendon Hills Old Vines Romas 2006 18. Torbreck Les Amis 2005
Rioja (‘last minute’ Tempranillo additions containing no Grenache) 19. Marqués de Riscal de 1945 20. Contador 2007
* Paco Higón has kindly pointed out that the 2007 Atteca Armas Bodegas Ateca / Zabrin comes from DO Calatayud and not DO Campo de Borja as listed above. The error is from the WineFuture Rioja09 site from where I copied the list of wines.
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