EU rules for organic wine production

Summary

As of August 2012, almost one year ago, organic wines can be labelled "organic", with the EU organic logo. This means wine can now be properly recognised as an organic product. Now that organic wine is fully integrated into EU legislation and therefore part of CAP (as well as being a subject for additional private standards), organic wine production - both in the vineyard and in winemaking - can be fully recognised as ecologically, economically and socially sound. We now have a solid basis for further development of the sector, and already we can see a positive response, with increasing production and new initiatives all over Europe.
In the past, wines could only be labelled as "made from organic grapes". The new legislative framework, established by Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, has been complemented by Regulation (EU) No 203/2012 that lays down detailed rules on organic winemaking and thus opened the door for organic wine in Europe.