Dealcoholised Wine: Legal Challenges in the European Union and Non-EU Legal Frameworks

Dealcoholised wine is reshaping one of the most established categories of European food law, challenging the traditional link between wine and alcohol content. This thesis analyses the regulatory evolution of dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wines within the European Union (EU) and in the broader international framework. The 2021 EU reform marked a decisive turning point, officially recognizing wines below the conventional 8.5% ABV threshold in line with public health strategies and consumer demand for NoLo (no/low alcohol) products. Although this innovation has collided with pre-existing frameworks, the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) classifies these products as “beverages” rather than wine, national systems impose divergent rules on labelling, excise duty, and product naming, and PDO/PGI protection remains closely tied to alcohol content. These contradictions reveal how a single product now lies at the intersection of health policy, technological regulation, intellectual property, and international trade. Outside Europe, global markets illustrate further complexity. In China, genetic prevalence of alcohol intolerance creates a unique consumer base for NoLo wines, while in Muslim-majority countries, cultural and religious restrictions demand “0.0%” and halal certification. Through a comparative analysis of EU legislation, OIV standards, and WTO principles, the thesis demonstrates how dealcoholised wine embodies both a growing market opportunity and a legally fragile identity, suspended between regulatory recognition and cultural resistance.