EU Revises Standards for Wine Industry Products

On July 25, 2024, the Official Journal of the European Union published an important announcement announcing a comprehensive revision of the existing product specification standards for the wine industry. This amendment is yet another major overhaul of the EU's wine regulations, designed to adapt to market changes and enhance the competitiveness of the industry, while ensuring continued high standards of product quality.

First of all, one of the highlights of the revision is the expansion of the variety of wines. The new standard will cover a wider range of wine categories to meet the growing and diverse needs of consumers. This means that in the future, we will see more innovative and regional wine products on the EU market.

Secondly, the analysis parameters are adjusted. The minimum total alcohol content for liqueur has been increased from 15 per cent to 17.5 per cent to satisfy consumers seeking a more intense taste. At the same time, the sugar content limit for still wines has been removed, which will provide greater freedom for the production of sweet and dry wines. In addition, the total acidity of liqueurs and the volatile acidity limits of "Fondillon" wines have been adjusted accordingly to ensure a balanced taste.

In terms of sensory description, the revision of old red wines, in particular "noble" and "a? "ejo" type descriptions have been enriched to more accurately reflect their flavor characteristics and help consumers better understand and appreciate these wines.

Changes in growing and winemaking practices are also an important part of the revision. Planting density restrictions have been removed, which will allow grape growers to select the best planting patterns based on specific soil and climate conditions. At the same time, the ban on the use of wood chips has been lifted, providing more innovation possibilities for the brewing process. For certain red wines and aromatic sparkling wines, the relaxation of grape variety ratio requirements will encourage the development of blending techniques, creating more unique flavor combinations.

The expansion of geographical indications is another key point. The European Union has reorganized wine regions to include New Territories to better protect and promote regional terroir characteristics. This will help to raise the profile and value of wines from specific regions.

In addition, the maximum allowable yield of grapes and wine per hectare has been increased in response to the growth in market demand. At the same time, the expansion of the number of grape varieties and their classification into major, minor and historic varieties will help to conserve and utilise the EU's rich grape genetic resources.

Finally, the amendments also remove additional conditions such as the tolerance of up to 25% of output and the provision of label authorization, in order to reduce the burden on producers and improve their market flexibility.

Collectively, these amendments reflect the EU's forward-thinking approach to the wine industry, with the aim of creating more room for innovation and business opportunities for producers, while ensuring that the reputation for quality of EU wines is maintained. With the gradual implementation of the new regulations, we look forward to seeing a more prosperous, diverse and innovative EU wine market."