English wine gets quality guarantee

The United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) has unveiled a new wine scheme to guarantee quality as well as provenance.

The changes, which affect English and Welsh still wines, will see UK wine labels use the terms Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from this year’s harvest, while the designation “table wine” will disappear.

In order to gain PDO and PGI status, wines are required to pass independent analytical and organoleptic assessments after the wine has been bottled.  

The UK has had a quality and regional wine scheme in place since 1992 and the new PDO/PGI schemes have evolved from these.

However, makers of sparkling wine in England and Wales will have to wait until later this year for a further and completely new scheme for this style.

Producers that opt out of putting their wines through the scheme may use the term "English (or Welsh) Wine" on the label but other information is restricted – for example vineyard location cannot be included.

“These new schemes will serve to convey the right message to trade and consumer buyers,” said Ian Edwards, chairman of the UKVA.

“When bottles bear the simple statement ‘English Quality Wine’ or ‘English Regional Wine’ (with the same reference for Welsh wines), consumers will be assured that every possible measure has been taken to ensure the wine is of good quality and made from grapes grown in England or Wales.

“From an industry perspective these schemes provide a simple way for producers to demonstrate the quality of their wines.”  
PDOs and PGIs are defined as follows:

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) denotes:

• Quality and characteristics that are essentially or exclusively attributable to the geographical environment in which it is produced

• The grapes have been grown exclusively in the defined region (ie England/Wales) and are only of the Vitis Vinifera genus  

• The production of the wine takes place in the defined region (England/Wales)

Wines will be labelled English (or Welsh) Quality Wine.

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

• Wines produced under this scheme must possess a specific quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to the geographical origin

• At least 85% of grapes used for its production have been grown in the defined region (i.e. England/Wales), with the rest from the UK, and are of the Vitis Vinifera genus or a cross of Vitis Vinifera and another genus of Vitis (therefore allowing hybrid varieties such as Seyval Blanc)

• The production of the wine takes place in the named area (England/Wales)

Wines will be labelled English (or Welsh) Regional Wine

Patrick Schmitt 07.10.2010