The EU has long had restrictive regulations regarding de-alcoholising wines. This is about to change. Non-alcoholic (de-alcoholised) “wines” will probably soon be allowed to call themselves wine. And they will be allowed to keep their AOP or their IGP.
This is an EU decision (in other words, a decision by the 27 member countries), although some details remain to be discussed.
The minimum alcohol content for wine has up until now been 8.5% (with some exceptions). According to the soon to be rules, AOP and IGP wines can be de-alcoholised to 0.5% and wines without geographical origin down to 0%. However, it must be stated on the label that the wine has been entirely or partially de-alcoholised. It is not yet clear which techniques may be used, except that adding water will not be allowed.
However, this does not mean that we will soon see a Pauillac or a Côte Rôtie with 0.5% alcohol. It is up to each AOP to decide if they want to implement these rules, and I guess not many will want to do that. But for vin de france and some IGPs (and corresponding in other countries), it may open up new opportunities as the demand for low-alcohol wines increases.
(A quick reminder: “vin de france” was previously called “vin de table”; IGP was called “vin de pays”, terms that are no longer used.)
Read more: vitisphere
