Brussels, 26/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 24 March, the European Commission obtained the backing of the EU member states, meeting in the Management Committee, for a draft regulation on, inter alia, the labelling of wine. The new rules relate in particular to rosé wine and provide for clear information to European consumers on the method of production used.
Rosé wine may be produced either by traditional methods (short maceration, partial dripping by draining or complete pressing) or by blending red and white wines. At present, such blending is banned for table wines in the European Union. However, it is permitted for “appellation” wines, if the specifications so provide. For example, in France rosé champagne may be produced from the blending of white and red wines. Historically, until 2004, there was also a derogation allowing the blending of table wines produced and marketed in Spain.
At international level, the blending of white and red wines is a practice accepted by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). Third countries may, therefore, use it and export such blended rosé wines to the European Union. Under the wine reform adopted by the Council in 2007, much greater use is to be made of the OIV references to oenological practices for European wines. Since the main objective of the reform is to enhance the competitiveness of European wines, European producers should be given the same opportunities as those in third countries. Thus, following wide-ranging discussions with stakeholders and the member states, the Commission, last January, and with member states' support, came out in favour of the abolition of the ban on blending although, of course, the production of “appellation” wines should continue to be restricted to traditional methods.
In view of the concerns recently expressed (by French rosé wine producers, particularly those from Provence) about the lifting of the ban, the Commission has developed an approach based on consumer information by means of labelling. Two label references are to be introduced: “traditional rosé”, only for wines obtained by traditional methods, and “rosé by blending”, for wines produced by blending white and red wines. These expressions may be used voluntarily by all producers complying with the relevant criteria. Also, member states may opt to make either of these expressions (or both) compulsory for the relevant wines produced on their territory.
In this way traditional producers of rosé wine will be able to effectively convey information using a specific term. Where a member state wishes to use a specific term other than “traditional rosé”, the Commission is willing to open discussion at any time to replace this expression or extend the range of specific terms.
The new rules on oenological practices, geographical indications (“appellations”) and wine labelling will be formally adopted by the Commission in the next few months, and will apply from 1 August 2009. In the meantime the draft text will be forwarded to the World Trade Organisation under the 'technical barriers to trade' notification procedure.
Gilles Savary calls it counterfeiting and calls for text to be withdrawn
At the European Parliament wine intergroup meeting on Wednesday 25 March, under the chairwomanship of Astrid Lulling (EPP, Luxembourg), Gilles Savary said that France should call for the withdrawal of the Commission's draft decision allowing the production and marketing of “industrial” rosé wines through blending red and white wines. “With this kind of game, which has more to do with the food counterfeiting industry, we'll soon be making off-ground red wine from white wine surpluses, artificially coloured,” Savary commented. At a time when rosé wine was beginning to confirm its place on the market, following long and patient effort from European winegrowers, it would be particularly shocking and immoral that the term “rosé wine” could be turned to the benefit of opportunist products, resulting from industrial sleight of hand, rather than from sound wine-making practices, he went on. (L.C./transl.rt)