In a groundbreaking decision, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has confirmed that wineries within the EU can label and market wine that has been pressed in third-party facilities, provided they have a tight grip on the process. This ruling is a game-changer for wine producers who may not have the resources to own pressing facilities but aim to label their products as 'EU winery' and 'estate bottled'.
The particular case that sparked this decision involved a wine producer from the Moselle region, who pressed grapes from leased vineyards further away in a rented facility. The Rhineland-Palatinate state wanted to prohibit the use of the protected designations 'winery' and 'estate bottling' due to the off-premises production. After a series of court battles, the matter was referred to the ECJ for a definitive ruling.
In line with the ECJ's ruling, vineyards can borrow processing facilities while still adhering to stringent oversight requirements. This means that wineries may leverage resources from vineyards located outside their premises, press the grapes in rental facilities, and label the resulting wine as 'EU winery' and 'estate bottled'.
Though not directly addressed, EU law provides general guidelines and regulations for wineries to comply with when marketing their wines. These include sticking to the EU's organic logo regulations, reporting on their sustainability initiatives (ESRS), fulfilling mandatory labeling requirements, and pursuing sustainable practices.
For instance, wineries producing organic wines must comply with EU organic production regulations to use the EU organic logo, even if the production takes place in third-party facilities. Additionally, wineries are encouraged to adopt sustainable practices, which can elevate their brand reputation and align with consumer trends that prioritize eco-friendliness and ethics.
