Jeremy Beadles comment October 2009

"Is there an idiots guide to the new European wine regulations?" was a question I asked my team a couple of weeks back. "It's not that easy" was the answer...

And of course the reality is it never would be with the kind of far-reaching changes to wine regulation set out in Regulations R479/2008, 555/2008, R606/2009 and R607/2009. Its not just what is written down but how it is going to be interpreted across Europe that make the whole thing "complex".

The WSTA is just finalising a new edition of its industry bible - "Checklists" - 390 pages of rip-roaring regulatory guidance but I thought I would try and set out in slightly less space where I see some of the big commercial opportunities for the industry. From now on:

- The phrases 'Table wine' and 'Quality Wine produced in a specific region' will no longer exist.

- Wine will have regionality or not. Wines that have regionality will have either Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). An example of a PDO could be an AOC (Appellation D'Origine Contrôllée Chablis), DOC, DO. An example of a PGI could be a VDP (Vin de Pays d'Oc) or an IGT.

- All wines can show a vintage.

- All wines can show a grape variety.

- For wines that are without PDO/PGI there are special rules for Vintage and Grape variety. The wines have to be certified by the competent authority or by a third party certification body.

- Complying with certain criteria cross regional blending will be permitted e.g. from different areas of France.

- Theoretically these rules will apply to the 2009 vintage, but in practice may start with the 2010 vintage.

- Printed labels and pre-packaging material which conforms to previous labelling rules may be used after 1 August 2009 until 31 December 2010.

- Packaged wines placed on the market before 31st December 2010 may continue to be sold / exported until stocks are exhausted.

There you go - my "idiots guide" - and I have no doubt that in wine-making regions around Europe there will be many different interpretations of the new rules and you may even hear that they "do not apply here". I would suggest that if you don't wish to wade through 390 pages you give us a call.

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive, Wine & Spirit Trade Association

• Harpers Says...