EU paves the way for non-alcoholic organic wine

Organic winemakers in the EU can now produce dealcoholised wine without losing certification, following a recent regulatory update. 

The non-alcoholic movement, and the organic wine market for that matter, is booming, but until now, organic producers were excluded from the category: those who removed alcohol lost their organic certification. Now, a regulatory change by the European Union allows dealcoholised wines to retain their organic certification, opening up new opportunities in the no- and low-alcohol market.

The amendment, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25 February allows for dealcoholisation of organic wine using vacuum distillation, a method that meets organic winemaking criteria and enables such products to carry the EU organic label.

Previously, organic regulations did not permit dealcoholisation processes, meaning that wines that had undergone alcohol removal could not be marketed as organic. The revision follows lobbying from several EU member states, with Germany playing a key role in advocating for the change. Under the new rules, vacuum evaporation and distillation are permitted as long as temperatures do not exceed 75°C and filtration devices have a pore size no greater than 0.2 microns. The measure ensures that dealcoholised organic wines maintain compliance with organic standards while responding to increasing consumer demand for non-alcoholic wine options.

The amendment is expected to create new opportunities for organic wine producers within the rapidly expanding no- and low-alcohol category. While dealcoholised wine remains a small fraction of the overall wine market, its growth trajectory suggests it could play an increasing role, particularly in health-conscious and younger demographics.

"If you want organic, you should get organic."

German agriculture minister Cem Özdemir, who had campaigned fiercly for this adjustment in Brussels, said: "A good day for organic winegrowers and a good day for everyone who wants to enjoy organic wine without alcohol. I have strongly advocated for this change in Brussels – it is good that it is now coming. If you want organic, you should get organic, even in a jar. This is an important update of organic regulations and a real market advantage for German viticulture."

With the regulatory framework now in place, it remains to be seen how producers will respond and whether dealcoholised organic wines will gain significant traction in key markets. The coming years will likely determine whether this regulatory shift marks a turning point for organic winemaking or remains a niche development within the broader industry.