EU wineries allowed to increase plantings

From next year, EU member states will be allowed to increase the size of their winegrowing areas by 1% annually – a move designed to counter the falling market share of EU wines.

Prosecco vineyards (Photo: db)

Coming into affect on January 1 2016, this week’s ruling by the European Commission follows the publication of an independent study into the state of the European wine industry.

It found that the EU continues to lose market share globally, despite growth in the volume and value of EU exports since 2008.

The report also stated that the EU will become increasingly reliant on exports as global demand increases but European demand decreases.

EU commissioner for agriculture & rural development Phil Hogan commended the new 1% growth system, which he said “provides flexibility for the European wine sector to gradually expand production, in response to growing world demand.”

Referring to other related changes being made, he continued, “At the same stage, member states have a range of safeguards to apply in order to address possible social and environmental risks in specific wine production areas.”

These safeguards include member states being able to apply specific planting limits at a regional level.

Since 2008, member states such as France, Italy, Spain and Portugal have only been allowed to plant new vineyards if they take an equivalent area out of production. This rule will be scrapped when the new system is introduced in January.