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The Italian Ministry of Agriculture has paved the way for the production and designation of de-alcoholized wines. Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida presented a new decree yesterday that provides for two new categories: wines with up to 0.5% alcohol content and wines between 0.5% and 9.0%. However, wines with protected designation of origin (DOP and IGP) are excluded from this.
The decision followed a long discussion. The Italian wine industry had debated for several months about the designation and production regulations for de-alcoholized wines. Until now, Italian wine law prohibited wines with an alcohol content of less than 8.5% from being called 'wine'.
The Italian wine entrepreneurs' association Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) advocated for the implementation of an EU regulation from 2021 that allows the designation 'wine' for de-alcoholized wines. However, Italy's Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida was strictly against the designation and refused to incorporate EU law into legislation. 'I will fight until the end to ensure that these types of beverages cannot be called wine,' Lollobrigida said in early November. Now, under pressure from business associations, the minister has changed his position.
In other EU countries like Spain and France, de-alcoholized wines have been part of the portfolio of large companies for several years. In France, even wines from protected AOC designations have recently been allowed for de-alcoholization. However, Italian producers have only been able to have their wines de-alcoholized and sold abroad until now.
The UIV expressed its satisfaction with the decree: 'The draft presented today by the Ministry of Agriculture provides a clear and detailed framework that protects product quality and consumer information. We are convinced that these new product categories represent an adaptation to European competitors and open up new market opportunities for the Italian wine industry,' said an official statement from the business association.
Although the UIV rated the draft positively, it sees further improvement opportunities. The decree currently stipulates that de-alcoholization should take place in the same facility where vinification and bottling occur. This is not realistic for many companies, as purchasing and operating a de-alcoholization plant is very costly.
In addition, the UIV calls for the inclusion of distilleries in the de-alcoholization process and a change in the treatment of hydroalcoholic substances. These are currently considered waste rather than a by-product. Nevertheless, producers hope for the adoption of the decree before the end of the year.
(ru / Agrisole)