Champagne & Wine

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Christopher Jones
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EU and US Imports
One of the recent bits of International wine news I heard about briefly was the EU agreement with the US regarding imports / exports. As I understood, in order to continue the exports of wine originating from the EU into the US, there have been some concessions made which allow American Wines which have been handled to escape standard regulations of signifying this on wine lables.

I am not sure as to what extent or by which process the wine is handled and would normally require it to be disclosed however the mass media will cry out that the EU is allowing 'watered down' wine in. I think this issue goes a little beyond this and has repercussions on EU countries which are all still trying to deal with issues around labling wine and which processes are 'legally' allowed and which are not.

Anyone with details or comments?

Christopher Jones
- 16 Jan 2006, 10:15 pm
Christopher Jones wrote: > One of the recent bits of International wine news I heard about > briefly was the EU agreement with the US regarding imports / exports. > As I understood, in order to continue the exports of wine originating > from the EU into the US, there have been some concessions made which > allow American Wines which have been handled to escape standard > regulations of signifying this on wine lables. > > I am not sure as to what extent or by which process the wine is > handled and would normally require it to be disclosed however the > mass media will cry out that the EU is allowing 'watered down' wine > in. I think this issue goes a little beyond this and has > repercussions on EU countries which are all still trying to deal with > issues around labling wine and which processes are 'legally' allowed > and which are not. > > Anyone with details or comments? > > Christopher Jones
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(not a XING member)

Re: EU and US Imports
Dear Christopher,

in fact the US and the EU finally came to an agreement, which is more representing the arguments from the US side.

But up to now there was no important and agressive reaction from the mass media. And I do not think so that there will be any.

Although my business is 95% in the area of high quality wines I think that the Americans are right saying that there are simply two totally different markets: mass and quality wine consumption. The Europeans would like that the consumer keep on thinking that every wine is made like it should be, even those from discounters and supermarkte chaines. I prefer that the consumer at the very end knows that he can buy wines as a drinkable, industrial product whereever he likes, but that he will not get everytime a quality product.

Therefore I am very interested in seeing the procedure of the discussion and its results in the future. My favorite solution would be the the labels will express the difference, maybe one part is named "wine" and the quality side "premium wine" or whatever.

Take care, Giorgio Karhausen
- 17 Jan 2006, 10:50 am
--- wrote: > Dear Christopher, > > in fact the US and the EU finally came to an agreement, which is more > representing the arguments from the US side. > > But up to now there was no important and agressive reaction from the > mass media. And I do not think so that there will be any. > > Although my business is 95% in the area of high quality wines I think > that the Americans are right saying that there are simply two totally > different markets: mass and quality wine consumption. The Europeans > would like that the consumer keep on thinking that every wine is made > like it should be, even those from discounters and supermarkte > chaines. I prefer that the consumer at the very end knows that he can > buy wines as a drinkable, industrial product whereever he likes, but > that he will not get everytime a quality product. > > Therefore I am very interested in seeing the procedure of the > discussion and its results in the future. My favorite solution would > be the the labels will express the difference, maybe one part is > named "wine" and the quality side "premium wine" or whatever. > > Take care, Giorgio Karhausen
Christopher Jones
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Re^2: EU and US Imports
Helo Giorgio

Great comments.

Therefore I am very interested in seeing the procedure of the discussion and its results in the future. My favorite solution would be the the labels will express the difference, maybe one part is named "wine" and the quality side "premium wine" or whatever.
That would be fantastic. Many supermarket wines are designed to look so good that it is almost impossible to know what kind of product you are purchasing.

If the french would take part in this discussion, maybe there would be suggestions for additional categories "Super Premium wine" and "Grand Super Premium wine".

Regards
Christopher Jones
- 20 Jan 2006, 1:43 pm
Christopher Jones wrote: > Helo Giorgio > > Great comments. > > > Therefore I am very interested in seeing the procedure of the > > discussion and its results in the future. My favorite solution would > > be the the labels will express the difference, maybe one part is > > named "wine" and the quality side "premium wine" or whatever. > > That would be fantastic. Many supermarket wines are designed to look > so good that it is almost impossible to know what kind of product you > are purchasing. > > If the french would take part in this discussion, maybe there would > be suggestions for additional categories "Super Premium wine" and > "Grand Super Premium wine". > > Regards > Christopher Jones
Philippe Bouckenooghe
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Re^3: EU and US Imports
Hi Giorgio, Christopher,

In my opinion this agreement has got nothing to do with quality but everything to do with interests. For the european wine producers the USA is a very important market and vice versa.

What is the fuss about? Because some say you can't chaptalize, others you can't water vineyards and others say you can't use woodchips. Everybody is protecting its own interests (this starts at appelation level) and it doesn't help the wine sector forward. Nor does it mean that this way the consumer will be better protected. Will stricter control on local level improve quality? I doubt it, as the small wine producers will be the first ones to suffer and the big companies will get away with it.

What this trade agreement means to me is that we accept that we don't agree what the definition of wine is, or which winemaking techniques are accepted. However we agree that we disagree and continue the same way as before and avoid a trade war.

Philippe
- 27 Jan 2006, 10:10 am
Philippe Bouckenooghe wrote: > Hi Giorgio, Christopher, > > In my opinion this agreement has got nothing to do with quality but > everything to do with interests. For the european wine producers the > USA is a very important market and vice versa. > > What is the fuss about? Because some say you can't chaptalize, others > you can't water vineyards and others say you can't use woodchips. > Everybody is protecting its own interests (this starts at appelation > level) and it doesn't help the wine sector forward. Nor does it mean > that this way the consumer will be better protected. Will stricter > control on local level improve quality? I doubt it, as the small wine > producers will be the first ones to suffer and the big companies will > get away with it. > > What this trade agreement means to me is that we accept that we don't > agree what the definition of wine is, or which winemaking techniques > are accepted. However we agree that we disagree and continue the same > way as before and avoid a trade war. > > Philippe

Champagne & Wine

EU and US Imports

Re: EU and US Imports

Re^2: EU and US Imports

Re^3: EU and US Imports