Italy Opens Door to Domestic Dealcoholized Wine Production After Years of Foreign Reliance

The Italian government has approved a new decree that allows the production of dealcoholized wines within Italy. The measure, issued jointly by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (MASAF), marks a significant change for the Italian wine sector. Until now, Italian wineries were required to send their wines abroad for dealcoholization, relying on foreign operators to carry out the process. With this new regulation, Italian producers can now manage dealcoholization in their own facilities.

The decree introduces a clear distinction between two types of producers. Small producers, defined as those making less than 1,000 hectoliters of wine per year, are classified as Esercenti Impianti di Dealcolazione (EID). Larger producers, with output above this threshold, are classified as Depositi Impianti Dealcolazione (DID). The decree sets out specific fiscal and administrative rules for both categories, particularly regarding the management of alcohol extracted during the process. All production must take place under a tax warehouse regime, and producers must hold an updated license in accordance with Article 28 of the Unified Text on Excise Duties.

For small producers (EID), the decree imposes strict technical requirements. Dealcoholization must occur in dedicated and clearly separated areas within the winery. Alcohol produced during the process must be collected in a designated container, and both wine and alcohol volumes must be measured with approved instruments. The use or further processing of extracted alcohol within the winery is strictly prohibited.

Larger facilities (DID) benefit from some procedural simplifications but remain subject to structured customs controls to verify the amount of alcohol produced. The decree also includes safeguards to prevent any misuse of alcohol or other byproducts resulting from dealcoholization.

On the technological front, only physical separation methods recognized by European Union Regulation 1308/2013 and by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine are permitted. These include vacuum evaporation, spinning cone column distillation, and reverse osmosis. The final products can be marketed as "dealcoholized wine" if they contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume, or as "partially dealcoholized wine" for intermediate levels defined by EU limits.

The decree also establishes coordinated oversight among several authorities: the Customs and Monopolies Agency, the Central Inspectorate for Quality Protection and Fraud Repression (ICQRF), and the Guardia di Finanza. This coordination aims to streamline inspections and avoid overlapping responsibilities among agencies.

The new rules respond to long-standing requests from Italian winemakers who have sought greater flexibility in adapting to changing consumer preferences, including growing demand for low- or no-alcohol wines. The move is expected to help Italian wineries compete more effectively in international markets where dealcoholized wines are gaining popularity. The decree was published at the end of 2025 and is now in effect across Italy.