Brussels, 13/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 11 October, following the go-ahead from Member States in the relevant management committee on 26 September, the European Commission adopted a regulation on the use of pieces of oak wood in winemaking in the EU. This winemaking practice, which produces a woody flavour similar to that found in wines aged in oak barrels, has been used in the EU since 2005. Until now, operators wishing to use this process had to go through a complicated procedure to obtain an exemption from Community rules on winemaking practices allowed in the EU.
The new regulation serves particularly to protect the consumer from error when the label of a wine produced using pieces of oak bears terms or expressions that could lead to the impression that the wine was aged in oak barrels. The use of expressions such as “cask aged”, “oak cask matured” or “oak cask aged” are now banned for wines improved by use of oak pieces. In addition, the label must mention the origin of the botanical species of oak and the intensity of any heating, the storage conditions and safety precautions. (lc)