Hansard

Wine

Volume 712: debated on Monday 29 June 2009

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Question

Asked by

Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will work within the European Union to promote the production and marketing of wines containing 8 to 13 per cent alcohol. [HL4530]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Lord Davies of Oldham)

In the recent negotiation of the implementing rules for the new EU wine regime, the UK argued strongly that EU wine makers should have the flexibility to produce wine with a lower alcohol content. These negotiations concluded on 19 June and I am pleased that from 1 August 2009 the new rules will allow the use of new techniques to reduce the alcohol content of wine by up to 2 per cent, thus enabling EU wine makers to respond to consumer demand for reduced alcohol wine.