A series of EU wine laws could be scrapped by the British government in a bid to increase the industry by £180mln, ministers have revealed.
The proposed changes would allow for wines with a Protected Designation of Origin status to experiment with growing on a wider range of vines, including disease-resistant options, helping reduce the losses UK wine producers experience.
Packaging requirements are also expected to change, with plans for specific sparkling wines to no longer be required to have foil caps or mushroom stoppers.
Imported wine would be allowed to be blended, carbonated, sweetened and de-alcoholised, while importer labelling and wine certification regulations will be amended.
Other changes include helping adjust regulations to produce non/low alcohol wine so that the new market can grow further.
Thérèse Coffey, Environment Secretary said: “The UK has over 800 thriving vineyards at home and hundreds of millions of pounds worth of wine trade going through UK ports every year.
“These reforms will put a rocket under our winemakers’ businesses – growing the economy, creating jobs and supporting a vital part of our food and drink sector.”
Industry leaders such as Miles Beale, the chief executive at the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, have welcomed the plans arguing it will provide “greater flexibility” and allow importers to “innovate” products.
The government said it will begin consultation shortly before launching any of the proposed changes.