How will the rules change for the wine sector? 

The vine plantings authorisation scheme, in place from 2016 until the end of 2030, should be prolonged until 31 December 2045, MEPs and member states agreed. They want the Commission to review how it functions in 2028 and again in 2040 and, if need be, to put forward proposals to make it more effective.

Wine labels should include the product’s nutritional information, or at least its energy value, with a link for an electronic nutritional declaration, and the list of ingredients or the direct link to where the list can be found, says the agreed text.

The agreed text of the regulation also reminds member states that they can recognise national or regional interbranch organisations in the wine sector, bringing together vine growers and processors or traders.

To help EU producers enter new markets, negotiators agreed to include de-alcoholised wines in the grapevine products category, and defined conditions for using the terms “de-alcoholised” (actual alcoholic strength of no more than 0.5%) and “partially de-alcoholised” (actual alcoholic strength above 0.5% but below the minimum actual alcoholic strength of the given category) wines. For PDO, PGI and TSG wines, only partial de-alcoholisation should be allowed.

Parliament and Council rejected proposals to introduce Vitis labrusca species into EU wine production and refused to lift the ban on six vine varieties: Noah, Othello, Isabelle, Jacquez, Clinton, and Herbemont. They say, however, that Vitis Labrusca or these varieties could continue to be planted or replanted in existing traditional vineyards, but only if used for purposes other than wine production.