About: Wine
Pesticide challenge leaving French viticulture with little choice
Wine is France's national pride but it represents a significant challenge for the country. Viticulture needs plenty of pesticides, mainly because of fungicides, but the sector continues to face many difficulties in changing its practices. EURACTIV France reports.
European winemakers grapple with environmental questions
Proud of their wines, Europeans are also concerned about the industry's widespread use of pesticides, while winemakers themselves will have to adapt to rising temperatures. From Bordeaux to Riesling and Champagne, EURACTIV takes a look at changing wine-making practices.
France sees red over Trump wine tax threat, cheaper vintages seen worst hit
American lovers of fine French wine are likely to keep stocking their cellars and uncorking bottles despite US President Donald Trump's threat to impose a tax in a potential new trade war. But makers of cheaper French vintages are concerned.
MEPs rubber-stamp first portion of next CAP, shed spotlight on wine and ‘real’ steak
An extension for vine planting authorisations, nutrition info on wine labels, and a provision banning the use of terms like burger for veggie and vegan products were among the main suggestions filed by the current AGRI committee directly to the next European Parliament.
Quality wine consumption is best way to tackle binge drinking, wine sector says
Getting drunk is not the point of drinking wine, representatives from the wine sector said at a EURACTIV event to celebrate 10 years of an international programme that promotes a satisfactory and healthy approach to wine consumption.
The future role of wine in society
The EU Alcohol and Health Forum, chaired by the European Commission, was established in June 2007. The Wine in Moderation programme was the commitment of the EU wine sector to the Forum.
Beer boss: Mandatory alcohol labelling should respect EU food information to consumers law
If EU legislators decide to move away from self-regulation in the area of alcohol labelling, the legislation should respect the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation, Pierre-Olivier Bergeron, the secretary-general of the Brewers of Europe told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Beer-loving Belgium continues shift to wine-making superpower
Climate change is having a massive impact on Europe’s winemakers but the effects are not always negative. Belgium’s industry is on the up thanks to shifting temperature patterns.
Greece backtracks on ‘ineffective’ excise tax on wine
The Greek government will soon table an amendment to abolish excise duty on wine as it has not brought the desired financial results, Greek Minister for Agricultural Development and Food Evangelos Apostolou said.
EU member states to take China to court over fake geographical indications
Eight member states of the European Union will take legal action against China over 25 counterfeit trademarks on the Chinese market that mislead consumers on the origin of products protected by the EU's geographical indications.
Portugal’s ‘vinho verde’ producers seek EU protection for demarcated regions
The ‘vinhos verdes’ (green wines) of northwestern Portugal have no direct international competitors, but their producers nevertheless want the European Union to safeguard the regional demarcations in its trade accords with foreign markets, local officials said. EURACTIV’s partner Lusa reports.
French winemakers launch campaign against ‘unfair’ Spanish competition
Winemakers in the Montpellier region in southern France have launched a media campaign to alert consumers to “unfair competition” from their Spanish counterparts, passing off their wine as French. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Fake wines and spirits cost the EU ‘at least’ 4,800 jobs per year
The rise of counterfeit products in spirits and wine across Europe cause annual government losses estimated at €1.2 billion as well as approximately 4,800 jobs in these sectors, a new study has found.
Climate change threatens European wine production
The EU is the world's biggest wine producer, but a recent publication has revealed the extent to which the sector is under threat from climate change. EURACTIV France reports.
Kerry snubs Ukraine, visits Moldova
US State Secretary John Kerry has snubbed a ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine, reportedly to show disapproval for the country’s recent U-turn toward Russia. Instead, Kerry paid a lightning visit to Moldova, which withstood Russian pressure and initialled an association agreement with the EU.
Russia punishes Moldova by banning its wines
Russia yesterday (10 September) announced a ban on imports of Moldovan wines and spirits, saying they contained impurities, a move certain to be seen in the small ex-Soviet republic as retaliation for its drive to expand ties with the European Union.
Trade rows forgotten as French winemakers look to China
In a few remote corners of China, a world away from Beijing's allegations of European wine dumping, makers of such lofty French brands as Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Dom Perignon champagne are investing millions of dollars to produce vintages they hope will put Chinese wine on the world map.
Cooler heads prevail in EU, China trade row over wine and solar panels
China has agreed to discuss dropping its inquiry into whether Europe is dumping wine, the EU's trade chief said on Monday (29 July), after EU and Chinese officials made a deal to avoid tariffs on solar panels from China.Why an EU-China trade war is unlikely
Escalated tensions between the European Union and China over solar panel tariffs is not going to cause a trade war. These disputes are short-lived, even if they are expected to continue in the coming years, explains George Friedman.
Sugar mounds and wine lakes? Not likely, quota advocates say
Butter mountains and milk lakes. Those were the images invoked in the European Parliament this week by opponents of extending vineyard planting limits and protections for sugar beet farmers.
Spirits industry questions death toll in French alcohol study
The French have long had a reputation for drinking in moderation. However, a new report states that the reputation is misleading and attributes 49,000 premature deaths per year - or 134 every day - to alcohol-related diseases.
Grape producers toast results of planting rights talks
A coalition of grape growers, farm groups and major wine-producing countries appear to have won concessions to European Commission proposals for liberalising vine planting rights that are due to expire by 2016.
Grape growers fight to keep planting limits
Grape growers are lining up support from EU national governments and the European Parliament to protect limits on vine planting that are due to expire by 2016, a liberalisation move they claim will destroy one of Europe’s premier industries.