Wine Law / EU

Question 1

What is the Governing body that defines “Wine” and how is it defined?

Answer 1

OIV (International Organization of Wine and Vine)
(“the beverage resulting exclusively from the
- partial or complete alcoholic fermentation
- of fresh grapes, whether crushed or not,
- or of grape must,”)
- ABV of 8.5%

Question 2

What is the allowable range of min ABV for a defined wine in the USA?

Answer 2

7-24%

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations

Question 3

What is the min ABV for the 2 categories of wine as defined by the CFR in the USA

Answer 3

“Table Wine” - 7-4%

“Dessert Wine” - 14-24%

Question 4

What year was the Griffe Law passed?

Answer 4

1889
(France - further defining wine)
1905 - updated
(combat Fraud)
1907 -Spirits added
1919 - AOC started definition

Question 5

What year did the AOC begin in France?

Answer 5

1919 BUT legislation in 1927

1935 the Comité National des Appellations d’Origine formed.

Question 6

What was the fist official AOC in France.

Answer 6

CnP 1936

Question 7

What year did the INAO form?

Answer 7

1947
(AOC became “Institue” (name changed)
Institut National de l’origine et de la qualité

Question 8

What is the definition between “encépagement” and “assemblage”?

Answer 8

Encepagment - plantings in the vineyard

Assemblage - final blend of the wine

Question 9

What is “law 930” and when did it start?

Answer 9

1963 - Italy

Start of the DOC / DOCG system

Question 10

How long does an appellation have to be DOC before it may petition for DOCG?

Answer 10

5 years

Question 11

What is the Italian equivalent of the French “Cashier de Charges”

Answer 11

“disciplinare di produzione”

Question 12

What is the “disciplinare di produzione” equivalent in France?

Answer 12

“Cashiers de Charges”

Question 13

When was the Goria Law passed?

Answer 13

1992
(Law 164)
(added the IGT category)
(Indicazione Geografica Tipica)

Question 14

When was the VDP formed?

Answer 14

1910
(dedicated to “naturewein”)
(prohibited to appear on labels in 1971)
1971 Law - Deutscher Weingesetz

Question 15

How many regions were in the original 1971 Law in Germany?

Answer 15

11

Sachen and Saale Unstrut were added in 1990 after the fall of the wall

Question 16

What was the Grubbing Up scheme?

Answer 16

• not allowed to plant or replant vineyards.
• individuals could sell to each other.
• subsidies given for replanting other crops
• distillation of excess wine

Question 17

What year did Distillation Subsidies stop in the EU?

Answer 17

2012

Question 18

What is CMO

Answer 18

Common
Market
Organization
(with EEC -Europe Ecominic Community)

Question 19

What is CAP?

Answer 19

Common Agricultural Policy

Question 20

What are the limits on Chaptalization in Zone 2?

Answer 20

Zone A: max 3% adjustment 
-(e.g. Germany, Czech Republic, UK)
Zone B: max 2% adjustment 
-(e.g. Alsace, Champagne, Loire, Austria)
Zone C: max 1.5% adjustment 
(e.g. Bordeaux, Burgundy)

Question 21

With the changes in EU regulations in 2009, what moniker replaced the “Table Wine” category? Give an example of a top their wine that uses it.

Answer 21

“Wines without Geographical designation”
VS “Wines With” (2 sub - PDO / PGI)
- Chateau Palmer “Historical XIXth Century Wine”
(VdF that has 5% Hermitage - 2004 1st vintage)

Question 22

Name 5 wines that can omit the PDO term from the label.

Answer 22

Champagne / Cava / Madeira
Port / Sherry / Asti / Franciacorta
Marsala / Samos / Cyprus’ Commandaria

Question 23

With the changes in the EU regulations in 2009, what replaced “Table Wine” and can you give an example of a top their wine that uses it?

Answer 23

Wine WITH or WITHOUT geographical indication.
Chateau Palmer produces a Vin de France with Hermitage.
“Historical XIXth Century Wine) (2004)

Question 24

Name 2 wine regions that the EU recognizes in the New World.

Answer 24

• Napa Valley AVA and

- Brazil’s Vale dos Vinhedos as PDO