VINITECH - SIFEL

"NOLO" (no or low alcohol) Category : French Regulations Progress Step by Step

24 September at 09:00

As the "NOLO" wine category continues to expand with nearly weekly new releases, regulations are evolving to help professionals—and especially consumers—better understand the products.

Currently, the regulation (EU) 2021/2117 from the European Parliament and Council dated December 2, 2021, governs de-alcoholized products. Now, when wines undergo a de-alcoholization treatment, the regulations require two labeling mentions to be used on communication materials: "de-alcoholized wine" if the product has an alcohol content not exceeding 0.5%, and "partially de-alcoholized wine" if the product has an alcohol content greater than 0.5% but lower than the minimum alcohol content set for the category before de-alcoholization.
Limitations on the Use of "De-Alcoholized Wine" and "Partially De-Alcoholized Wine" Mentions

Alcohol content correction is possible for AOPs and IGPs that have integrated it into their production rules, but the resulting wine must have an alcohol content in line with its specifications. In this case, no mention is required. Since April 4, following a decision by the IGP Committee of INAO, IGP wines can be partially de-alcoholized up to 6%. However, this de-alcoholization is subject to conditions, including inclusion in the specifications and sensory evaluation of all wines before and after de-alcoholization. IGPs can then indicate the mention "IGP wine... partially de-alcoholized." Wines from France can mention "partially de-alcoholized wine," but also, and they are the only ones allowed, "de-alcoholized wine."
No "Alcohol-Free Wine" or "0.0% Vol." for De-Alcoholized Wines

The DREETS (Regional Directorates of Economy, Employment, Labor, and Solidarity) indicate that mentions such as "alcohol-free wine," "without alcohol," "0.0% vol.," or equivalents for de-alcoholized wines are only allowed when the presence of alcohol is not detectable by analysis (alcohol content below 0.1% vol.). They emphasize, however, that these mentions are not provided for in the texts and that since the final product still contains some alcohol, presenting a product under these designations could confuse consumers.
Nutritional Labeling Already Implemented

As with wines, since December 2023, de-alcoholized and partially de-alcoholized wines are subject to mandatory labeling of nutritional elements and ingredient lists. When the alcohol content is below 10°, a minimum durability date (DDM) must also be indicated, which is the date from which the product may lose its taste or nutritional qualities but is not harmful to health. This labeling also applies to wine-based beverages and non-fermented products (such as those made from grape must).


Benoît Roumet for V&S News, 
republished by Vinitech-Sifel 
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