Wine labelling in the EU

Abstract

This dissertation aims at treating the requirements laid down by European Union (EU) legislation which relate to the description, designation and presentation of wines produced and/ or bottled within the EU and how these are implemented in selected Member States. The first chapter mentions the aim of this dissertation, the method used and the sources tapped. The second chapter treats the historical background and origins of wine labelling under EU law. The history of wine labelling dates back several thousand of years to the ancient civilisations. The Romans used to authenticate their amphorae with a series of numbers, letters, codes, logos and drawings in order to prevent fraud. Roman wine was already categorised according to a hierarchical system which is very similar to the appellation system embodied in EU legislation. The third chapter is a study of the EU-wide system of definitions, quality standards and labelling in the wine industry and of the rules on protected designations of origin, protected geographical indications and traditional expressions. This form of protection enables the consumer to identify quality products that reflect a true image of regional diversity. The rules regulating wines imported from third countries are also meat of this chapter. The fourth chapter treats the methods used in selected EU member States in implementing EU legislation. The conclusive part of this chapter highlights the salient particulars featuring on a number of specimen wine labels. The fifth chapter examines any upcoming reforms in the wine labelling sphere and the impact that these might have on the EU wine industry.