EU WINE REFORM TO MODERNIZE OLD SCHOOL WAYS

There’s been a lot of rumbling across the Atlantic upon news of a wine industry reform proposal overseen by EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel. Here’s a brief overview of what the plan entails:

1. Plans to rip up 6% or nearly 500,000 acres of poorer quality EU vines
2. Allowing the use of oak chips
3. Halt the nearly $700,000 spent each year subsidizing farmers for unfit grapes
4. $160 million per year marketing budget
5. Allow EU labels to indicate vintage and wine variety


The measures are expected to reduce the wine surplus and help the EU against its New World competitors. Many in the industry, however, resent the reforms they feel encourage the EU to follow in the footsteps of New World countries, such as Australia and the US. Especially offensive is the proposal that would allow vintners from different countries to blend wines, dubbed “Europlonk,” much like some winemakers do in the US from state to state.

“We are now actually losing market share to dynamic producers in other parts of the world, consumption is falling and imports are increasing by about 10 per cent,” said Mariann.