At the end of last month I posted a story about Europe attempting to legalise the blending of red and white wine to make rosé. There had been much anger from wine producers, particularly in France and Italy, who believed, if passed, this law would undermine the industry of authentic rosé. You can view this post here.

So I was quite happy when I caught the article below on Decanter News this morning. It looks like European wine makers have been cut some slack, for the time being anyway.

The EU has announced it will drop plans to allow red and white wines to be blended to make rosé, agriculture minister Mariann Fischer Boel announced today.

The announcement comes after months of strong lobbying from wine-producing countries in Europe, including France and Italy.

Producers and lobbyists argued that allowing the blending of red and white wines to make rosé – a method legal in New World wine countries and, ironically, Champagne – would destroy the ‘nobility’ of the more traditional method of maceration used in Europe.

‘It’s become clear over recent weeks that a majority in our wine sector believe that ending the ban on blending could undermine the image of traditional rosé,’ said Fischer Boel. ‘I am always prepared to listen to good arguments – that’s why I am making this change’

The blending plans were drawn up to allow EU to be competitive with New World rosé producers and would have only been allowed in the production of Table Wines.

Sourced from www.decanter.com/news 8/6/09

Rosé wines are traditionally produced using a special technique of leaving the crushed red grapes to soak with macerating white grapes. But blending red and white wines will also produce a rosé of sorts, and that, says the European Union, is what’s needed by French, Spanish and Italian winemakers to attract new markets such as China.

The intention is to legalise the blending of white and red wine. Only 2% red wine is required to provide the colour close to a normal rosé. The European regulations would allow winemakers with a global reach to unload large quantities of unwanted white wine.

The point of the E.U. decision makers is to have the ability to make extremely cheap, accessible plonk to cater for countries, like China, where wine sales have seen year on year growth within a massive market. Increasing exports can only benefit Europe.

The issue with those within the wine industry is that the aromas and the harmony and balance between acidity, alcohol and smoothness is neglected with this process. Therefore, there is fierce opposition to the idea of calling it ‘rosé’, which compromises the economy of genuine rosé wine.

In a recent statement, French Agriculture Minister, Michel Barnier, opposed the blending law. “We need to preserve the flavour and quality of local rosé wines. I like rosé, but I will not drink adulterated rosé.”

However, Barnier has come under fire from former French farming activist, Jose Bove, who branded him a “liar”. At the original vote on the European wine reforms in January this year, the French delegation, of which Barnier was a part of, chose not to vote against the plans, which included the rosé legislation.

The E.U. is expected to vote in favour of the proposed reform on June 19th.