The use of the word ""wine""""
2.1.1 The use of the word “wine”
The use of the word "wine" or, (without prejudice to article 2.1.2.2) other substitutive recognised indication, is obligatory in the labelling of the product which respects the definition quoted in article 1.2.1. It may be completed by mentioning its type or particular classification. Subject to the provisions which the Member States make compulsory for their own production, no opposition can be made to the release onto the market of the product which respects this definition and which is presented under the single name "wine".
Without prejudice to the particular provisions made for certain products which bear in their name the word "wine" alongside complementary information, the word "wine" used alone can only apply to the product defined in article 1.2.1.
Appellation of origin or Geographical indication
2.1.2 Appellation of origin or geographical indication
Definitions
Geographical Indication
Geographical indication is any denomination protected by the competent authorities of the country of origin, which identifies a wine or spirit beverage as originating in a specific geographical area, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the wine or spirit beverage is essentially attributable to its geographical origin[1].
As far as wine is concerned, the protection of the geographical indication:
- is subject to at least 85% grapes being harvested in the specific geographical area.
As far as spirit beverages of a vitivinicultural origin are concerned, the protection of the geographical indication:
- is subordinate to the fact that the decisive phase of production being carried out in the country, region, place or defined area.
Appellation of Origin
Appellation of Origin is any denomination recognised and protected by the competent authorities in the Country of origin, consisting of or containing the name of a geographical area, or another denomination known as referring to such area, which serves to designate a wine or spirit beverage as originating in that geographical area, where the quality or characteristics of the wine or spirit beverage are due exclusively or essentially to the geographical environment, including natural and human factors, and which has given the wine or spirit beverage its reputation[2]
The protection of the appellation of origin is subordinate to the harvest as well as its transformation into wine in the region or defined area.
When a wine benefits from an appellation of origin or from a geographical indication such as defined above, and figures on a list published by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, the use of this appellation of origin or the geographical indication on the label, conforming to the laws of the producer country, is obligatory.
In this case the appellation of origin or the geographical indication can constitute the denomination of the product and take the place of the word "wine".
To avoid confusion with other designations it is recommended that the use of a complementary mention characterising the product, such as "Appellation of Origin..." is made compulsory.
[1] Articles 22.1 and 23.1 of the TRIPS Agreement
[2] Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (2015, article 2.1.i]
Information on alcoholic strength
2.2 Information on alcoholic strength
Information on acquired alcoholic strength in percentage per volume of the product is compulsory on the labelling with a tolerance of 0.5 p. 100 vol.
However, this tolerance is raised to 0.8 p. 100 vol for wine that is to be laid down, and flor wines.
Information on substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia
2.3 Information on substances[1] known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia
The presence of substances known to cause hypersensitivity, including allergies, inter alia shall be indicated on the label of the wine.
The substances concerned are:
- Residues of fining agent proteins in wine (milk, milk based products, egg, and egg based products, wheat proteins), if their presence can be detected in the final product using the analysis method responding to the criteria fixed by the method OIV-MA-AS315-23.
- Sulphites in a concentration of 10mg/L or more.
[1] Substance is any food, ingredient or processing aid
Net contents
2.4 Net contents
The net contents shall be declared in the metric system (International System of units (SI)).
The declaration of net contents represents the quantity at the time of packaging and is subject to enforcement by reference to an average system of quantity control.
It is recommended that the enforced average system of quantity control is compatible with the requirements set by the International Recommendation OIML R 87 “Quantity of product in pre-packages” and its further updates of the International Organisation for Legal Metrology.
The country of origin
2.5 The country of origin
In international exchanges, the official or usual name of country of origin must be mentioned when the product comes from grapes harvested and vinified in this country.
The use of a name of a State such as provided for above is dependent on the agreement of this State:
- when the wine is vinified in a country different to that in which the grapes were harvested,
- when the wine is a result of a blend of wines from different countries.
The name and address of the person responsible for pre-packages
2.6 The name and address of the person responsible for pre-packages
The name of the person responsible for the pre-packages is either:
- the patronymic name of the physical person
- the registered name of the company
- or the commercial name of the latter who take the responsibility for the product put in a pre-package by themselves or on their account.
The address of the person responsible for the pre-package bears the name of the place where this was actually processed or carried out, this address being completed, if need be, by that of the pre-packagers' headquarters.
The name and address of the importer can be used in place of those responsible for the pre-packages.
Information about the name of the person responsible, his address, as well as the place the containers were pre-packaged, and those relating to the quality of the pre-packager should not be capable of creating confusion as to the wine's origin nor to the existence and quality of the evoked persons or businesses. To avoid confusion about the wine's origin, it is recommended that the name of the place or person responsible is replaced by a code, when these names constitute an appellation of origin or a geographical indication to which the pre-packaged wine has no right.
Batch identification
2.7 Batch identification
The batch information number, that is, the information allowing the identification of a defined quantity of wine produced (and packaged) in similar conditions, is freely chosen by the operators and is of such a kind that the information can be clearly distinguished for what it is.