The provisional agreement, reached this month by the European Parliament and Council on the European Commission’s proposal for a Wine Package, includes a set of policy recommendations to help the wine sector on a social, economic, geopolitical and environmental level.
Global wine production is at its lowest level since 1961. Extreme conditions (such as heat and drought and unpredictable weather patterns) have affected sensitive wine regions.
And Europe makes up a huge part of the global wine supply. France, Italy and Spain alone together account for 50% of wine production worldwide.
That’s why the EU is stepping in with a new set of measures: here’s what the key points are.
Addressing supply and demand
Member states are now allowed to support measures such as ‘grubbing up’: the process of pulling up vines and replacing them with other agricultural crops.
That will prevent oversupply: meaning that what wine does remain in the market is not undervalued.
Furthermore, the end date for the planting rights scheme will be removed and instead, a 10-year revision period will be introduced.
Stronger climate resilience
Member states will be encouraged to increase EU support for investments that help enhance climate resilience. That includes mitigation and adaptation efforts: accelerating a shift towards sustainable production.
Simplified and harmonized labeling
EU labeling rules will be simplified: cutting administrative costs and helping encourage cross-border trade.
In addition, consumers will get more access to information. That includes digital labels and pictograms. For example, the EU has already introduced new legislation for wine labeling.
Supporting wine tourism
Support will be available to help develop wine tourism: which will be particularly valuable for driving growth in rural regions.
Wine industry welcomes support
The Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) represents the EU wine industry and has welcomed the new measures.
“This agreement shows that policymakers have heard our concerns and we thank them for the expedited work," said Marzia Varvaglione, President of the Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV). "It is a good legal package, measures on promotion, investment and wine tourism, in particular, respond to long-standing requests from operators to focus on market-oriented tools."
However, she warns that the new measures alone cannot be expected to solve the structural challenges for the industry
"We need to be conscious that EU law cannot resolve all the challenges we face. The outcome of the trilogue confirms a balanced approach that avoids focusing solely on destructive, crisis-driven measures” she added.
Low and no alcohol wine
The term ‘alcohol-free’ will apply to products below 0.5%. Meanwhile, products that come in under 0.05% will be able to use the ‘0.0’ descriptor.
Lower alcohol wines (that is, wines that have around 30% less alcohol than standard strength wines) will be able to use the term ‘reduced alcohol’. That replaces the previous proposal of ‘alcohol light’.
Export flexibility
Exports will no longer have to list ingredients and provide a nutritional declaration: taking away an ‘unnecessary administrative burden’.
Combating plant diseases
There will be more support to combat plant diseases.
One of these is flavescence dorée, a phytoplasma disease of the vine which can kill young vines as well as reducing productivity of old vines.
Innovation in aromatized wine products
Rosé wine will be permitted to be used as a base for additional regional aromatised wine products.
This will widen the scope for new innovations and product development in wine: helping producers create new products for consumers’ new tastes.
