Optional Information

Codified File

Trademarks

3.1.1              Trademarks

  • a trademark has to conform to the rules laid down by national law;
  • a trademark must not be in contradiction with the protection of appellation of origin and geographical indications, as defined by the OIV. Furthermore, it must not create confusion in the minds of the people for whom it is intended, neither on the appellation of origin or the geographical indication, nor on the product's geographic origin;
  • a trademark must not create confusion, notably on the producer, the merchant, the vine variety or the vintage.

other terms

3.1.10         Other terms

 

Subject to the compliance of national regulations, optional indications can equally be shown: terms or texts which notably refer to the history of wine or commercial firm, consumer advice, natural conditions or vine growing techniques, harvesting and wine making, other ageing descriptions, sensory conditions, analytical information different from alcoholic content, wine colour, additional source information about origin and graphic signs. This information must not, by its nature, create confusion as such, concerning the preceding information as in the arrangements of Article 1.4.

Parties participating in the marketing process

3.1.2              Parties participating in the marketing process

The name of one or several persons, firms or groups of people interested in the marketing of wine, having participated in the:

  • production;
  • wine selection;
  • pre-packaging (description of those in charge of the pre-packaging);
  • distribution (to restaurants etc).

Name of the viticultural holding

3.1.3              Name of the viticultural holding

The use of the name of the viticultural holding in combination with  for example: château, quinta, finca, tenuta, Weingut, manor, estate, villa, torre, etc.) in the presentation of wine is subordinated to:

  • The wine must come solely from the said holding: grapes harvested and vinified in the holding as such designated;
  • The description of the viticultural holding must correspond to the customs of the country and must not create confusion in the mind of the consumer;
  • The wine must be entitled to a recognised geographic indication or recognised appellation of origin, and be mentioned as such.

In any case, the use of a name of a viticultural holding shall not be in conflict with other legitimate intellectual property rights like previously registered geographical indications, appellations of origin or trademarks. Member States can establish coexistence mechanisms.

Varietal name

3.1.4              Varietal name

  1. Can only be indicated if:
  • The wine is produced from at least 85% of the grapes of the said varietal (not including any quantity of grapevine products used in sweetening; 
  • This varietal determines the specific character of a wine;
  • The name of the varietal does not lend itself to confusion with a recognised appellation of origin or a recognised geographic indication.
  • If two or more wine grape varieties or their synonyms are named, at least   85% of the product concerned must have been made from these varieties (not including any quantity of grapevine products used in sweetening.

The wine grape varieties must appear on the label in descending order of the proportion used and in characters of the same size.

No wine grape variety may appear on the label if it has been used in a smaller proportion than another variety that is not on the label.

To ensure these provisions are respected, it is recommended that States ensure the implementation of traceability of volumes of grape variety(ies) used in the product produced.

Vintage or harvest year

3.1.5              Vintage or harvest year

To bear this mention the wines must be made from at least 85% grapes coming from the year shown. 

Type of wine

3.1.6              Type of wine[1]

Terms relating to the sugar content are as follows:

a)      Dry, when the wine contains a maximum of 4 g/l of glucose plus fructose or 9 g/l when the acidity strength totals (expressed in grams of tartaric acid per litre) is not less than 2 g/l to glucose plus fructose strength.

b)       

c)      Medium dry, when the sugar content of the wine is higher than the sugar content indicated under the first bullet point and does not exceeds

  • 12 g/l

or

  • 18 g/l, when the difference between the sugar content and the level of total acidity expressed in g/l of tartaric acid does not exceed 10g/l

d)      Mellow or semi-sweet, when the wine contains more than the figures aimed for in the second drawing off and achieves at the most 45 g/l.

e)      Sweet, when the wine contains a glucose plus fructose strength of at least 45 g/l.

[1] Sugar content is determined by the “glucose + fructose” method of analysis as described in the International Compendium of Methods of Analysis

The ageing of wine

3.1.7              The ageing of wine

Terms related to the "ageing of wine", or an equivalent, can only be used if a national rule defining ageing conditions exists. 

Traditional terms of quality

3.1.8              Traditional terms of quality

The indication of terms relative to a superior quality of wine (Grand vin, cru, superior wine, classico, vino nobile, etc) must satisfy the following conditions:

  • the wine must have entitlement to an appellation of origin or geographical indication;
  • the terms must be attributed by an official organisation of the country of production and refer either to the classification of the viticultural land or to criteria relating to wine quality.
  • the labels must show the vintage.

Medals and Distinctions

3.1.9              Medals and distinctions

The indication relating to medals or distinctions depends on whether:

  • they were attributed in a non-restricted competition, according to the standards concordant with the criteria defined by the O.I.V., and on a homogenous and defined quantity of wine,
  • documentary proof exists, referring to the batch (article 2.7) concerned
  • Medals and distinctions received by an individual wine bear the name of the competition, the year of award and as a general rule shall only be applied to wines bearing the name under which the sample was entered. However, in recognition that a wine could be entered in a competition before a wine has been finally allocated to a Brand, portability of an award so that it can stay with the wine which won it shall be permitted providing the wine competition regulations so allow.