Low alcohol lunacy by EU

In this country we can label a white wine made from the Grenache grape as Grenache Blanc, Garnacha Blanca, Garnatxa Blanca or Lladoner Blanco but we can't label it White Grenache.

The legislation has developed in such as way as to prohibit labelling in the national language. Another example relates to oenological practices. In response to research indicating consumer interest, UK multiple retailers are seeking to list new lower-alcohol products.

Both the UK Government and the Scottish Executive are encouraging this, but thanks to EU legislation there is a problem. In some, mainly cooler, parts of the world it is
possible to produce naturally low alcohol wines at 9-11% abv but in hotter climate this can be difficult.

Winemakers then have two choices: they can harvest early or they can use recognised oenological practices to reduce alcoholic strength.

Oenological practices, such as "reverse osmosis" or use of the "spinning cone" are not, however, currently permitted in the production of wine for sale within the EU.

The WSTA is seeking a temporary derogation to allow wines made using these practices to be sold in the UK. But to add to the confusion, wines produced in the US using these practices can be sold in the EU under the terms of the EU/US bilateral agreement.

Meanwhile, reverse osmosis is currently permitted in France on an experimental basis and spinning cone technologies have been licensed, also on an experimental basis, in Spain. Wines made using these processes can then be sold in their country of origin under the terms of the experimental licences.

These regulations are not in the interest of the consumer or industry. Consumers have indicated that they want a wider choice of lower alcohol wines and the oenological practices in question present no public health concerns and are widely used outside the EU.

We hope that the European Commission will take a pragmatic view.

Jeremy Beadles is chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association