11 - Wine and the Law

Question 1

True/False: labels are required to display the words ‘contains sulfites’ if SO2 is added in the winemaking process

Answer 1

False; the term ‘contains sulfites’ is required based on SO2 in a wine being above a certain level. This can be reached in wines where SO2 is produced naturally during fermentation

Question 2

Why is the use of GIs so tightly controlled?

Answer 2

in order to ensure a wine is the product of the grapes grown in the location stated on label (and avoid fraud for premium wines).
This also regulates the use of a GI from one country by a producer from a different country.

Question 3

How much of the liquid in a wine bottle typically must come from stated GI?

Answer 3

85% (there are variations -some laws are less strict and others are more strict. For PDO wines, for instance, 100% of grapes must come from region on label)

Question 4

What are the two quality categories that EU wines with a GI are divided into? How are they different?

Answer 4

PDO - Protected Designation of Origin
PGI - Protected Geographical Indication

PDOs are smaller areas, tightly defined regulations. PGIs are larger and less strict regulations

However these terms themselves rarely appear on label. instead producers will use traditional labelling terms like AC or AOC instead of PDO

Question 5

what are the French terms for PDO and PGI

Answer 5

PDO - AC or AOC (appellatio d’origine controlee)

PGI - IGP (Indication geographique protegee) or Vin de Pays

Question 6

True/False: wines without a GI offer European producers flexible production rules, such as allwoing them to source grapes from vineyards throughout a country of from different countries in the EU

Answer 6

True

Question 7

True/False: PGI category wines are lower quality because they use non-traditional varieties

Answer 7

False. PGI category is diverse. It includes wines of exceptional quality made using grapes growin in vienyards outside of PDO boundary. It can also include high volume inexpensive wines.

Question 8

True/False: PDO and PGI wines usually do not state the varieties on the label

Answer 8

False. Though many PDO wines do not state variety on label, most PGI wines state the variety on label