Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

CHAPTER II U.K. DEFINITION, DESCRIPTION, PRESENTATION AND LABELLING OF AROMATISED WINE PRODUCTS

Article 3 U.K. Definition and classification of aromatised wine products

1. Aromatised wine products are products obtained from products of the wine sector as referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 that have been flavoured. They are classified into the following categories:

(a) aromatised wines;

(b) aromatised wine-based drinks;

(c) aromatised wine-product cocktails.

2. Aromatised wine is a drink:

(a) obtained from one or more of the grapevine products defined in point 5 of Part IV of Annex II and in points 1 and 3 to 9 of Part II of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, with the exception of ‘Retsina’ wine;

(b) in which the grapevine products referred to in point (a) represent at least 75 % of the total volume;

(c) to which alcohol may have been added;

(d) to which colours may have been added;

(e) to which grape must, partially fermented grape must or both may have been added;

(f) which may have been sweetened;

(g) which has an actual alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 14,5 % vol. and less than 22 % vol. and a total alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 17,5 % vol.

3. Aromatised wine-based drink is a drink:

(a) obtained from one or more of the grapevine products defined in points 1, 2 and 4 to 9 of Part II of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, with the exception of wines produced with the addition of alcohol and ‘Retsina’ wine;

(b) in which the grapevine products referred to in point (a) represent at least 50 % of the total volume;

(c) to which no alcohol has been added, except where Annex II provides otherwise;

(d) to which colours may have been added;

(e) to which grape must, partially fermented grape must or both may have been added;

(f) which may have been sweetened;

(g) which has an actual alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 4,5 % vol. and less than 14,5 % vol.

4. Aromatised wine-product cocktail is a drink:

(a) obtained from one or more of the grapevine products defined in points 1, 2 and 4 to 11 of Part II of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, with the exception of wines produced with the addition of alcohol and ‘Retsina’ wine;

(b) in which the grapevine products referred to in point (a) represent at least 50 % of the total volume;

(c) to which no alcohol has been added;

(d) to which colours may have been added;

(e) which may have been sweetened;

(f) which has an actual alcoholic strength by volume of more than 1,2 % vol. and less than 10 % vol.

Article 4 U.K. Production processes and methods of analysis for aromatised wine products

1. Aromatised wine products shall be produced in accordance with the requirements, restrictions and descriptions laid down in Annexes I and II.

2. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 33 concerning the establishment of authorised production processes for obtaining aromatised wine products, taking into account consumers’ expectations.

In establishing the authorised production processes referred to in the first subparagraph, the Commission shall take into account the production processes recommended and published by the OIV.

3. The Commission shall, where necessary, adopt, by means of implementing acts, methods of analysis for determining the composition of aromatised wine products. Those methods shall be based on any relevant methods recommended and published by the OIV, unless they would be ineffective or inappropriate in view of the objective pursued. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 34(2).

Pending the adoption of such methods by the Commission, the methods to be used shall be those allowed by the Member State concerned.

4. The oenological practices and restrictions laid down in accordance with Articles 74, 75(4) and 80 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall apply to the grapevine products used in the production of aromatised wine products.

Article 5 U.K. Sales denominations

1. The sales denominations set out in Annex II shall be used for any aromatised wine product placed on the market in the Union, provided that it complies with the requirements for the corresponding sales denomination laid down in that Annex. Sales denominations may be supplemented by a customary name as defined in Article 2(2)(o) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.

2. Where aromatised wine products comply with the requirements of more than one sales denomination, the use of only one of those sales denominations is authorised, except where Annex II provides otherwise.

3. An alcoholic beverage not fulfilling the requirements laid down in this Regulation shall not be described, presented or labelled by associating words or phrases such as ‘like’, ‘type’, ‘style’, ‘made’, ‘flavour’ or any other term similar to any of the sales denominations.

4. Sales denominations may be supplemented or replaced by a geographical indication protected under this Regulation.

5. Without prejudice to Article 26, sales denominations shall not be supplemented by protected designations of origin or protected geographical indications allowed for wine products.

Article 6 U.K. Additional particulars to the sales denominations

1. The sales denominations referred to in Article 5 may also be supplemented by the following particulars concerning the sugar content of the aromatised wine product:

(a) ‘extra-dry’

:

in the case of products with a sugar content of less than 30 grams per litre and, for the category of aromatised wines and by way of derogation from Article 3(2)(g), a minimum total alcoholic strength by volume of 15 % vol.;

(b) ‘dry’

:

in the case of products with a sugar content of less than 50 grams per litre and, for the category of aromatised wines and by way of derogation from Article 3(2)(g), a minimum total alcoholic strength by volume of 16 % vol.;

(c) ‘semi-dry’

:

in the case of products with a sugar content of between 50 and less than 90 grams per litre;

(d) ‘semi-sweet’

:

in the case of products with a sugar content of between 90 and less than 130 grams per litre;

(e) ‘sweet’

:

in the case of products with a sugar content of 130 grams per litre or more.

The sugar content indicated in points (a) to (e) of the first subparagraph is expressed as invert sugar.

The particulars ‘semi-sweet’ and ‘sweet’ may be accompanied by an indication of the sugar content, expressed in grams of invert sugar per litre.

2. Where the sales denomination is supplemented by or includes the particular ‘sparkling’, the quantity of sparkling wine used shall be not less than 95 %.

3. Sales denominations may also be supplemented by a reference to the main flavouring used.

Article 7 U.K. Indication of provenance

Where the provenance of aromatised wine products is indicated, it shall correspond to the place where the aromatised wine product is produced. The provenance shall be indicated with the words ‘produced in (…)’, or expressed in equivalent terms, supplemented by the name of the corresponding Member State or third country.

Article 8 U.K. Use of language in the presentation and labelling of aromatised wine products

1. The sales denominations set out in italics in Annex II shall not be translated on the label or in the presentation of aromatised wine products.

Additional particulars provided for in this Regulation shall, where expressed in words, appear in at least one of the official languages of the Union.

2. The name of the geographical indication protected under this Regulation shall appear on the label in the language or languages in which it is registered, even where the geographical indication replaces the sales denomination in accordance with Article 5(4).

Where the name of a geographical indication protected under this Regulation is written in a non-Latin alphabet, it may also appear in one or more of the official languages of the Union.

Article 9 U.K. Stricter rules decided by Member States

In applying a quality policy for aromatised wine products with geographical indications protected under this Regulation which are produced on their own territory or for the establishment of new geographical indications, Member States may lay down rules on production and description which are stricter than those referred to in Article 4 and in Annexes I and II in so far as they are compatible with Union law.