Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea del 15/1/2024 - Comunicaciones e Informaciones
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Source: Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea - Comunicaciones e Informaciones
OJ C, 15.1.2024
5
In relation to sparkling wines:
a.
Why is it not possible to produce low alcohol sparkling wine with a second alcoholic fermentation of de-alcoholised wine?
EN
A second alcoholic fermentation leads to the production of not only carbon dioxide but also ethanol. With current types of fermenting yeasts, adding a tirage liqueur to a totally de-alcoholised sparkling wine would therefore likely create a sparkling wine which would have an actual alcoholic strength above 0,5 %, therefore not complying with the definition of de-alcoholised wine. The final product could thus not be labelled as de-alcoholised wine but would very likely fall under the definition of partially de-alcoholised wine and should be labelled as such.
b.
Why is it legal to call a product de-alcoholised sparkling wine, even if it not possible to de-alcoholise a sparkling wine?
Under the existing legal framework, it is possible to produce de-alcoholised aerated sparkling wines, using a de-alcoholised base wine to which external carbon dioxide has been added.
However, the available de-alcoholisation techniques do not currently ensure the removal of ethanol from sparkling wines while maintaining their content in carbon dioxide. Also, current fermentation techniques do not allow to have a second fermentation without alcohol production. Nevertheless, innovation may change this situation in the future.
The legal framework is already in place to encourage the wine sector to develop the necessary innovations for de-alcoholisation techniques. See also reply to Question 5a.
6
We have not understood whether the legal framework established by Regulation EU 2021/2117 4 is sufficient, or whether the Commission will work in the coming months to amend secondary legislation Delegated Regulation EU 2019/33 5.
In particular, a recurring question from the undertakings is whether a de-alcoholised wine may include on the label the optional indication of the vintage and/or variety.
In other words, from the point of view of the labelling rule, would the principle be that the product obtained de-alcoholised or partially de-alcoholised bears with it all the characteristics/terms which the base wine had e.g. vintage year 2020, Pinot Grigio variety?, applying the provisions of the current Delegated Regulation EU 2019/33, or the way in which these elements are presented on de-alcoholised products, will be specifically detailed in the secondary legislation?
The Commission is not preparing secondary legislation on de-alcoholised wines, including in relation to labelling. In line with Regulation EU No 1308/2013, as amended by Regulation EU 2021/2117, the label of partially de-alcoholised and totally de-alcoholised wines will have to specify the category of wine accompanied by the terms partially de-alcoholised and de-alcoholised respectively. The other labelling rules under Regulation EU
No 1308/2013 and Delegated Regulation EU 2019/33 remain valid and apply to de-alcoholised wine products. It will therefore be possible to place particulars such as the vintage year or the variety name on the label, if the applicable conditions for these particulars are met. It is to be noted that in absence of specific rules laid down in the sectoral wine legislation, the general labelling and presentation rules, as set out in Regulation EU No 1169/2011, apply.
4 Regulation EU 2021/2117 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 amending Regulations EU
No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products, EU No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, EU No 251/2014 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of aromatised wine products and EU No 228/2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 262, ELI: http data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2117/oj.
5 Commission Delegated Regulation EU 2019/33 of 17 October 2018 supplementing Regulation EU No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards applications for protection of designations of origin, geographical indications and traditional terms in the wine sector, the objection procedure, restrictions of use, amendments to product specifications, cancellation of protection, and labelling and presentation OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2, ELI: http data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2019/33/oj.
ELI: http data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/694/oj
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