C11 - Wine and the Law /checked Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is the primary concern of authorities in charge of food and beverage legislation?
To ensure that what is sold is safe and fit for human consumption
Give an example of an area of food safety which is particularly important in the area of wine
The use of SO2
What is the issue if SO2 levels are not monitored?
High levels can be toxic
Name a safety measure taken pertaining to SO2
In most countries, the words ‘contains sulphites’ must appear on the label
Why is it unlikely that a winery will not need to write ‘contains sulfites’?
FERMENTATION PRODUCES SO2
Because fermentation produces an amount of sulfites anyway
What is the main responsibility of the entity that puts a product on sale when it comes to labelling?
That descriptions and claims made on packaging are accurate
Label information needs to be clear and able to be checked
Why are geographical indications a common feature on a wine label?
Because the area where grapes are grown can have a defining influence on the style and quality of the wine
Literally speaking, what is a GI?
Geographical Indication
A designated vineyard area within a country
Roughly how large are GIs?
They can cover an entire region (e.g. Bordeaux) or a single vineyard (e.g. La Romanee)
What is a major risk for wines that sell at a premium price?
Fraud
Why is GI law relatively complicated?
Because when more than one country is involved in the making of the wine, more than one jurisdiction is at play
How are the complications of GI law managed uniformly?
A GI system has been created by the WTO which all major wine producing countries adhere to
Give an example of a wine-labelling situation which has been changed as a result of WTO GIs/agreements
Australians no longer use the term ‘Chablis’ (or any EU GIs) for any of their wines
Wat is the typical origination % for GI?
What is the origination % for PDOs?
GI = 85% PDO= 100%
There are significant variations between the way that GI legislation is written within the EU and outside of it
How many quality categories are EU GIs split into? What are they?
- Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
2. Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
Broadly speaking, what is the difference between PDOs and PGIs?
PDOs are smaller areas with more tightly defined regulations
What is the term most commonly used in place of PDO in France? What does it stand for?
AOC/AC/AOP
Appellation d’origine contrôlée/protégée
What is increasingly being used in France in place of Vin de Pays (VdP)?
IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée)
What makes European GIs unique? (2)
Local laws will typically also state:
- What grape VARIETIES can be grown
- What grape-growing and winemaking TECHNIQUES can be used
What is the goal of European variety and technique rules?
The system can protect what is seen as the unique identity of local wines, promoting quality and preventing fraud.
Give 2 reasons as to why many producers prefer to make wines in the PGI category as opposed to the PDO category
Less restrictions regarding:
- VARIETIES
- PRODUCTION/TECHNIQUES
What is a notable labelling difference between PGI wines and PDO wines?
PGI wines will usually state grape variety on the label
What category of wine offers European winemakers the most flexible production rules?
Wine without a GI
Create multi-regional blends by sourcing grapes from different parts of a country, or even multi-national blends
What is the major difference between EU and non-EU GI wines?
Non-EU wines are not governed by local laws to define and limit what local varieties can be planted
