Brussels, 17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Friday 13 March, Michel Barnier, France's Agriculture Minister, objects to the proposal aimed at authorising a mixture of white and red wine for the production of rosé wines in the table wine category (wines without designation of origin or protected geographical indication). Community regulation in force until 31 July 2009 bans this method of blending red and white wine. The European Commission has suggested lifting the ban in order to bring the rules applying to Community wines into line with international rules, so that European production is not penalised compared to its competitors worldwide.
The French agriculture minister takes the view that such a decision could bring the economic balance of the rosé wine sector into question as this sector has, for many years, sought to improve the quality of products with respect for traditional methods of production. Furthermore, this would prevent the consumer from differentiating between rosé wines made from blends and rosé wines obtained by specific maceration methods.
Aware of the problems engendered by the authorisation of white/red wine blends, the European commissioner for agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, may possibly agree to the creation of a specific labelling to allow traditional rosé wines to be differentiated from those made of a white/red wine blend. She may present a proposal along these lines during a meeting on 23 and 24 March between experts from EU member states.
The issue of blending wine to make rosé is only one of many in the proposal on wine-making practices under consideration. The EU regulatory committee will vote on the draft regulation on 27 April. An indicative vote was held within the management committee on the regulation of wine-making practices on 27 January. The countries voting against were Germany (because of sulphite levels), Hungary (sulphites and because of “Tokaj”), along with Greece and Italy (both because of reservations over “de-alcoholisation” and mixing of wines from different regions). No country raised the issue of producing rosé by blending. France voted for the regulation. The WTO has also been consulted. If it does not comment before 18 April, it will be assumed that the WTO accepts the text. (L.C./transl.jl/rt)