Wine package: Agriculture Committee clarifies rules for the wine sector

Wine with less than 0,05% of alcohol labelled as “alcohol-free”

More time and funds for winegrowers to adjust their production to the market development

Immediate action against swift of unexpected market disturbance

Members in the Agriculture Committee adopted on Wednesday a report on new proposed rules for the wine sector.

The 'wine package', which amends three EU laws defining current rules for the wine sector, seeks to address challenges wine producers face and unlock new market opportunities for them. In their report adopted with 43 votes in favour, no votes against and 2 abstentions, Members introduce a number of clarifications.

Wine labelling

MEPs propose more flexibility and clarification for labelling of wine. The term “alcohol-free” accompanied by the expression 0,0% could be used if the strength of the product does not exceed 0,05% by volume. Products whose strength is equal to or above 0,5% alcohol and are at least 30% below the alcoholic strength of their category should be labelled as products with “reduced alcohol”.

More flexible payments for wine producers

MEPs want that winegrowers can plant or replant vines of wine grape varieties authorised by member states for an additional year since receiving the authorisation in cases of force majeure and exceptional circumstances such as natural disasters or a plant disease outbreak.

To ensure level-playing-field among winegrowers in different member states, MEPs want to include crisis management measures aiming at removing excess wine from the market (grubbing up, crisis distillation of wine and green harvesting) among the interventions that can be financed with EU sectorial funds. At the same time, national payments’ ceiling for crisis distillation of and green harvesting should be set at 30% (from 20% proposed by the Commission) of the global available funds per member state.

The adopted report also introduces the option to carry over unused funds for sectoral interventions in the wine sector from one year to the next.

Immediate action in case of unexpected market disturbances

To address or prevent market disturbance that occurs swiftly or unexpectedly, such as significant price rises or falls on the market, MEPs want to empower the Commission with tools to take an immediate action. Commission could for example adjust or suspend import or introduce a temporary voluntary production reduction scheme, MEPs specify.

Protection of wines with geographical indications

In order to protect wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication, Member states should be able to prohibit the replanting of vines intended for the production of wines without these designations after grabbing up in those areas, which are eligible for the production of such wines. However, vineyards classified as “heroic” - characterised by exceptional difficulty of cultivation due to environmental and structural factors - should be exempt from this rule, add MEPs.

Quote

Rapporteur Esther Herranz García (EPP, ES) said: “We have managed to improve an already solid legislative proposal and expand the tools available to address the crisis faced by the wine sector, such as the greater degree of budgetary flexibility. It is an ambitious position with many positive aspects that we will defend in the next steps. We will now start working on the trilogues negotiations as soon as possible in order to reach an agreement by the end of the year.”

Next steps

Agriculture Committee also decided to start talks with EU countries on the final shape of legislation. The mandate will be announced at the plenary session taking place on 12-13 November 2025. If approved by the plenary, a trilogue meeting with the Council is expected to take place on 4 December.

Background

The wine package was presented by the Commission on 28 March 2025 in order to reflect policy recommendations of the High-Level Group on Wine Policy on how to align wine production with demand, boost resilience to market and climate challenges, and seize new market opportunities. The legislative package amends the Common Market Organisation Regulation, the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation and the Aromatised Wine Products Regulation.