In Italy a taboo falls, green light for dealcoholized wines

Published 2024년 12월 24일

Tridge summary

A recent regulatory update in Italy, outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture, permits the labeling of alcoholic beverages as 'wine' with a lower alcohol content of less than 8.5 degrees, marking a shift in a country known for its significant wine production. This move aims to cater to the growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages, targeting a broad spectrum of consumers, including those who prefer to limit their alcohol intake. The decree, however, excludes wines with protected designations of origin and geographical indications from this permissive alcohol content reduction. This development is anticipated to boost the consumption of dealcoholized wines, aligning with global trends and positioning Italy to better compete in the international market.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Until now, a drink with an alcohol content of less than 8.5 degrees could not be called “wine”. Now, with the publication on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture of the implementing provisions of the decree on dealcoholized products, this rule falls, a regulatory gap is filled and above all a taboo falls in the world’s largest wine-producing country and the cradle of the Mediterranean Diet. “It is possible,” the decree states, “to partially or totally reduce the alcohol content of wines, sparkling wines, quality sparkling wines, quality aromatic sparkling wines, carbonated sparkling wines, semi-sparkling wines and carbonated semi-sparkling wines.” Nothing changes for wines with a certified denomination: in Italy, the total and/or partial dealcoholization process cannot be carried out for the categories of wine products with a protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI). The ministerial decree is, Masaf specifies, in the process of being ...

Source: Ilsole24ore.com