Organic winemaking practices
- Organic production
Summary
The European Union (EU) has added de-alcoholisation to the processes that are permitted in organic production. This allows the marketing of organic de-alcoholised wine in the EU.
EU approves production of organic de-alcoholised wine
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/405 of 13 December 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards oenological practices
Update
The European Union (EU) has added de-alcoholisation to the processes that are permitted in organic production. This allows the marketing of organic de-alcoholised wine in the EU.
Impacted Products
Wine
What is changing?
The process used to produce de-alcoholised wine – partial vacuum evaporation and distillation – has been added to the list of processes that may be used in organic production (Regulation 2018/848). This allows de-alcoholised wine to be sold as an organic product.
The process must comply with the detailed requirements set out in Part VI of Annex II to Regulation 2018/848 (which is revised by this new Regulation):
- alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 0.5% volume
- the temperature used must not exceed 75°C
- the size of pores for filtration must not be smaller than 0.2 μm
- the distillation must be used under vacuum.
Why?
De-alcoholised wine has become a recognised product of the wine sector (under Regulation 2021/2117). The use of vacuum distillation to produce de-alcoholised wine was evaluated by the Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP). EGTOP recommended its inclusion as a permitted organic practice, exclusively for the production of totally de-alcoholised wine (not exceeding 0.5% alcoholic strength).
Timeline
Date of effect: 18 March 2025.
Background
Regulation 2018/848 establishes rules on the production and labelling of organic products, including the winemaking (oenological) practices, processes, and treatments that may be used in organic production (Annex II, Part VI, Section 3.3).
Prior to Regulation 2025/405, de-alcoholised wine could not be produced organically because the de-alcoholisation processes were not permitted under organic production rules.
For further information on organic production, see New EU Organic Regulation explained.
Resources
Regulation 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products
Regulation 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products
Sources
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/405 as regards oenological practices
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EU approves production of organic de-alcoholised wine
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/405 as regards oenological practices
What is changing and why?
The European Union (EU) has added de-alcoholisation to the processes that are permitted in organic production. This allows the marketing of organic de-alcoholised wine in the EU.
Timeline
Date of effect: 18 March 2025.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.