EU Lawmakers Back Wine Sector Overhaul With 30% Increase in Crisis Funds

Members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee voted on Wednesday to adopt a report clarifying and updating rules for the wine sector across the European Union. The report, known as the “wine package,” aims to address ongoing challenges faced by wine producers and to open new opportunities in the market. The committee approved the report with 43 votes in favor, none against, and two abstentions.

One of the main changes concerns wine labeling. Under the new rules, wines containing less than 0.05% alcohol by volume may be labeled as “alcohol-free” and can use the expression “0.0%.” Wines with an alcohol content equal to or above 0.5%, but at least 30% lower than the standard for their category, should be labeled as products with “reduced alcohol.” These changes are intended to provide more clarity and flexibility for both producers and consumers.

The committee also addressed payments and support for winegrowers. Producers will have an extra year to plant or replant authorized grape varieties if they face force majeure events such as natural disasters or disease outbreaks. To ensure fair competition among winegrowers in different member states, the committee proposed that crisis management measures—such as removing excess wine from the market through grubbing up, crisis distillation, or green harvesting—can be financed with EU sectoral funds. The ceiling for national payments for these interventions would rise from 20% to 30% of available funds per member state. Additionally, unused funds for sectoral interventions could be carried over from one year to the next.

To respond quickly to unexpected market disturbances, such as sudden price changes, the committee wants to give the European Commission new tools for immediate action. These could include adjusting or suspending imports or introducing temporary voluntary production reduction schemes.

The report also includes measures to protect wines with geographical indications. Member states would be allowed to prohibit replanting of vines intended for non-designated wines in areas eligible for protected designation of origin (PDO) or protected geographical indication (PGI) wines after grubbing up. However, vineyards classified as “heroic”—those facing exceptional cultivation difficulties due to environmental or structural factors—would be exempt from this rule.

Esther Herranz García, rapporteur for the report, said that the committee had improved an already solid legislative proposal by expanding tools available to address crises in the wine sector and increasing budgetary flexibility. She described the position as ambitious and said that negotiations with other EU institutions would begin soon, with hopes of reaching an agreement by year’s end.

The Agriculture Committee also decided to start talks with EU countries on finalizing the legislation. The mandate will be announced at a plenary session scheduled for November 12-13, 2025. If approved by the plenary, a trilogue meeting with the Council is expected on December 4.

The European Commission first presented this legislative package on March 28, 2025. The proposal follows recommendations from a High-Level Group on Wine Policy aimed at aligning wine production with demand, improving resilience against market and climate challenges, and exploring new market opportunities. The package amends three key EU laws: the Common Market Organisation Regulation, the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation, and the Aromatised Wine Products Regulation.