‘Alcohol-free’, ‘0.0%’ and ‘alcohol gentle’ are the brand new standardised denominations proposed by the European Fee for no and low-alcohol (NoLo) wine merchandise in a bid to reinforce their enchantment.
As a part of its newly offered wine bundle, the EU government has proposed three new classifications looking for to harmonise terminology throughout member states and help the rising marketplace for non-alcoholic wines.
The general bundle introduces focused measures to assist the sector handle its manufacturing potential, adapt to altering shopper preferences, and exploit new market alternatives.
The proposed designations outline ‘alcohol-free’ as wines with an alcohol content material not exceeding 0.5% by quantity, whereas ‘0.0%’ is reserved for wines with an alcohol content material not exceeding 0.05% by quantity.
The time period ‘alcohol-light’ will apply to wines with an alcohol content material above 0.5% however at the least 30% decrease than the minimal energy of the class earlier than dealcoholisation.
A ‘rebranding’ operation
Beforehand, EU laws used the technical phrases “absolutely and partially de-alcoholised” wines, which have been seen as much less consumer-friendly.
“The concept is to exchange them with names which might be extra enticing and in addition extra acquainted to shoppers,” defined a Fee official.
Dealcoholisation – the method that removes alcohol from wine – has advanced considerably and may now produce wines starting from average alcohol ranges (10-12% alcohol by quantity) to nearly no alcohol in any respect.
The three new phrases, whereas already broadly used, are presently regulated in a different way throughout member states, and the brand new guidelines intention to make sure uniform wine labelling all through the EU.
0.0% Glühwein at Christmas
Whereas the beer sector has efficiently launched non-alcoholic merchandise, the wine business has been slower to innovate.
With the worldwide NoLo beverage market reaching roughly $13 billion in 2023 – a 62% improve since 2018 – this proposal goals to raised place the EU wine business to compete in an more and more health-conscious market.
Latest years have seen evolving shopper demand for different lowered alcohol grapevine drinks and the proposal additionally paves the best way for dealcoholisation of aromatised wines, resembling glühwein or mulled wine, which was beforehand prohibited.
This modification will enable these specialty merchandise to be marketed utilizing the identical descriptive phrases as commonplace grapevine merchandise with comparable alcohol content material.
A bundle to assist the sector
The wine bundle consists of amendments to a number of EU laws and follows a 2023 session launched after member states known as for pressing motion to revitalise the wine sector.
The decision to discover new guidelines for the rising market of no- and low-alcohol (NoLo) wine merchandise emerged from this reflection group.
Past NoLo wine classifications, the bundle consists of elevated planting flexibility for vineyards, measures to stop wine surpluses, clearer advertising and marketing laws, enhanced help for local weather resilience, harmonised labelling necessities, and promotion of wine tourism.
“I’m satisfied that our proposals will assist stabilise the market and allow producers to grab new alternatives and reply to altering shopper expectations,” stated EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen in a press release.
Hansen is anticipated to current the bundle earlier than MEPs within the European Parliament’s agriculture committee in early April and push for fast legislative approval of the measures.
