The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is currently undergoing institutional discussions (called trialogue) in order to draw the outlines of its upcoming reform. Among the many points discussed on Friday 26 March, the regulation of de-alcoholised wines was on the agenda
The parties to these trialogue meetings, including the main rapporteurs of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the CAP dossier, studied the progress of dealcoholisation and the proposal to authorise it in PGI.
Emiliano Garcia-Page Sanchez, President of the Assembly of European Wine Regions (AREV), gave Vitisphere an update on the measures that could be taken in the near future. "The demand for de-alcoholised wines (...) is a reality, as is the demand for organic or sustainable wines. "I note with interest the progress in the current negotiations which seek the right balance between tradition, innovation and the emergence of market segments. ". The CAP would like to offer PGI wines the possibility of reducing the alcohol content of their wines to a greater extent than is currently allowed.
The different parties in the trialogue also agreed on the possibility of offering dealcoholised or partially dealcoholised wines a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication.
In any case, if one of these proposals is accepted, its use will be very closely monitored by the institutions, especially for labelling. "Clear information for the consumer is essential. We owe it to them to be as transparent as possible. It is a question of ethics and of ensuring a strong producer-consumer relationship in the long term. "concluded Emiliano Garcia-Page Sanchez.
The various agreements reached will be discussed by the European ambassadors in the coming weeks before final and applicable decisions are taken.
To be continued ...