Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the use of interspecific vine varieties suitable for the production of quality wines produced in specified regions
Date: 2003-12-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: product quality, vineyard, viticulture, wine of superior quality

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 30.12.2003
COM(2003) 838 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL

on the use of interspecific vine varieties suitable for the production
of quality wines produced in specified regions

EN

  EN

   
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL

on the use of interspecific vine varieties suitable for the production
of quality wines produced in specified regions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3

Legal framework .......................................................................................................... 3

Study funded by the Commission ................................................................................ 4

Assessment of the impact on quality............................................................................ 4

Assessment of the impact on the environment............................................................. 6

Assessment of the impact on market equilibrium ........................................................ 7

Conclusion of the study................................................................................................ 8

Suggestions .................................................................................................................. 9

Definitions.................................................................................................................... 9

10.

List of the varieties selected for the study on the use of the varieties of interspecific
vines, divided into white and red wine varieties .......................................................... 9

2

 
1.

1.1.

1.2.

1.3.

1.4.

2.

2.1.

INTRODUCTION

The  current  legislation  allows  the  use  of  interspecific  varieties  only  for  producing
table wines, while quality wines psr can be produced exclusively with Vitis vinifera
varieties.

The common organisation of the  market  in wine provides that  the  Commission,  on
the  basis  of  an  independent  study,  report  to  the  European  Parliament  and  to  the
Council  on  the  possible  use  of  interspecific  varieties  in  quality  wines  produced  in
specified regions.

In fact, during the discussions in the framework of the previous reform of the  wine
sector,  it  appeared  that  there  was  a  great  divergence  of  opinions  in  the  Council  on
this matter.

The purpose of this report is precisely to meet the obligation of the Commission to
submit  to  both  Institutions,  the  European  Parliament  and  to  the  Council,  a
background for policy proposals.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1493/1999  of  17  May  1999  on  the  common
organisation of the market in wine provides for the following:

2.1.1. Article  17(3):  "The  Commission  shall  fund  an  independent  study  on  the  use  of
interspecific  varieties.  On  the  basis  of  this  study  it  shall  present  by  31  December
2003  a  report  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  accompanied,  if
appropriate, by proposals."

2.1.2. Article 19(2): "In their classification, Member States shall indicate the vine varieties
suitable for the production of each of the quality wines psr produced in their territory.
These varieties shall be of the species Vitis vinifera."

2.1.3. Article 55(1): "The provisions covering the production of quality wines psr shall, in
addition to any national rules adopted pursuant to Article 57(1), and regard being had
to  the  traditional  condition  of  the  production  in  so  far  as  these  are  not  such  as  to
prejudice the policy of encouraging quality production and the smooth operation of a
single market, be based on the following factors:

(a)

(b)

(c)

demarcation of the area production,

vine varieties,

cultivation methods,

(d) wine-making methods,

(e) minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume,

(f)

(g)

yield per hectare,

analysis and assessment of organoleptic characteristics."

3

 
2.1.4. Annex  VI. B. 1:  "Each  Member  State  shall  draw  up  a  list  of  the  vine  varieties,
referred  to  in  Article  19,  suitable  for  producing  each  of  the  quality  wines  psr
produced in its territory. These varieties must be of the species Vitis vinifera".

3.

3.1.

STUDY FUNDED BY THE COMMISSION

With  a  view  to  assessing  the  possible  impact  on  the  wine  market,  in  case  that
interspecific varieties are authorised to produce quality wine psr, in August 2002, the
European Commission launched a specific study which had to analyse the results and
works already made on this matter. It had to provide information about interspecific
varieties on the basis of an examination of the existing scientific literature.

This  study1  has  been  carried  out  by  an  external  contractor,  formed  by  a  group  of
experts with distinct backgrounds of three different countries: France, Germany and
Hungary. It has focused on the following issues:

(cid:1)  The impact of the use of interspecific varieties on the quality of wine compared to

the quality of wine from traditional varieties;

(cid:1)  The  impact  of  the  use  of  interspecific  varieties  on  the  environment  and  the

utilisation of plant protection products;

(cid:1)  The economic impact of the use of interspecific varieties on the EU wine market.

3.2.

The outcome of this study was focused to answer three key questions:

(cid:1)  Do  wines  produced  from  interspecific  varieties  have  the  same  quality  as  wines

made from traditional varieties?

(cid:1)  Does  the  use  of  interspecific  varieties  allow  a  reduction  of  the  use  of  plant

protection products?

(cid:1)  What is the economical impact that interspecific varieties would have on the wine
market, if the prohibition for the use of interspecific varieties for the production of
quality wine psr was abolished?

3.3.

Bearing in mind that there are several thousands of interspecific varieties, in order to
have  a  representative  assessment,  for  this  study  8  interspecific  varieties  were  pre-
selected, based on their economical relevance and their potential to produce quality
wine.

4.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON QUALITY

As regards the impact on quality, the findings of the study can be summarised as follows:

4.1.

The composition  of the berries and wine  from interspecific  varieties  show  constant
differences compared to those from Vitis vinifera.

1

Study on the use of the varieties of interspecific vines.
Coordinator, Phytowelt GmbH, Germany.
Partners: Euroquality and INRA, France.
Research Institute Geisenheim and Federal Centre for Breeding research on cultivated plant, Germany.
RIVEMARD, Hungary.

4

 
                                                
4.2.

4.3.

4.4.

4.5.

4.6.

4.7.

4.8.

4.9.

Unfavourable  flavour  compounds  are the  main concern  when  interspecific  varieties
are used. This concerns several molecules depending on the cultivars. Some of these
compounds can also be detected in wines from Vitis vinifera cultivars in the case of
fermentation problems.

The  second  issue  concerns  the  sugar  and  acid  contents  of  the  berries  from
interspecific varieties. The berries tend to be poor in sugar and relatively rich in acid.
Most  interspecific  varieties  will  thus  give  wine  relatively  poor  in  alcohol  and  not
well balanced for acid, especially if they are grown in cool climatic conditions.

In  Hungary  several  interspecific  vine  varieties  such  as  Bianca,  Medina  and
Zalagyöngye  are  cultivated.  Experts  are  still  discussing  the  advantages  and
disadvantages  of  interspecific  varieties.  Employing  non-oxidative  vinification
methods, good table wines or quality wines could be produced with these varieties.
For the time being, wines produced with interspecific varieties are generally sold as
blended wine.

In the EU, interspecific varieties have been banished from the production of quality
wines because most of the interspecifc varieties gave wine of poor quality, also due
to their high yields.

The  reported  data  show  that,  even  if  most  interspecific  varieties  have  effectively
some  strong  deficiencies  and  produce  wines  of  poor  quality,  certain  others  have
proven to be suitable to produce wines of good quality, provided that:

(cid:1)  they are well cultivated and planted in adequate areas, with very strict and careful

growing practices,

(cid:1)  the wine is produced properly and aged well.

Obviously,  strong  distinctions  should  be  made  between  crude  hybrids  and  more
complex descendants, which give the best results.

Most data were gathered about grapes grown in cooler areas. In these areas cultivars
such as Villard blanc or Bianca could be used to produce quality wine psr. Varieties
showing good quality, in particular for colour and tannins, could be an alternative for
the production of red wines of good quality. These varieties can be used for varietal
wines, but they may be even better adapted for blended wines.

In  order  to  produce  wines  of  good  quality,  varieties  have  to  be  cultivated  under
adequate growing conditions. It is well known that each cultivar should be cultivated
in areas to which they are well adapted. The grape breeding and testing process and
more specifically the location(s) greatly influence the adaptation of the variety to its
environment.

Moreover,  the  interspecific  varieties,  which  are  cultivated  or  tested  today,  are
probably  not the varieties  that would  gain European-wide significance  if  they  were
allowed  for  producing  quality  wine  psr.  Rather,  varieties  of  national  or  regional
importance,  adapted  to  the  needs  of  local  consumers  and  winegrowers,  would  be
bred in each country, as is the case for the traditional Vitis vinifera varieties.

5

 
5.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

As  regards  the  impact  on  the  environment,  the  findings  of  the  study  can  be  summarised  as
follows:

5.1.

5.2.

All  traditional  European  grapevine  varieties  Vitis  vinifera  are  susceptible  to  the
fungal  diseases  powdery  mildew  (Oidium  tuckeri,  Uncinula  necator)  and  downy
mildew  (Plasmopara  viticola),  which  were  introduced  to  Europe  from  North
America  during  the  19th  century.  As  a  consequence,  regular  plant  protection
measures are essential for European grapevine varieties. For about 100 years, grape
breeders  in  different European countries tried  to  combine  resistance  characteristics,
which are present in American  and Asian Vitis species, with the quality features of
traditional European varieties.

Increased  cultivation  of  interspecific  and/or  mildew  tolerant  Vitis  vinifera  varieties
may  lead  to  a  significant  reduction  of  plant  protection  measures.  The  degree  of
reduction  largely  depends  on  the  degree  of  fungal  resistance  of  the  variety  and  the
climatic conditions in the vine-growing region.

It  is  also  probable  that  conventional  growers  would  plant  interspecific  varieties  in
order  to  cut  production  costs  or  to  grow  grapes  in  poorly  accessible  areas  (e.g.  on
steep  slopes,  where  plant  protection  is  particularly  difficult  and  expensive).  The
major  reason  for  the  use  of  interspecific  and/or  disease  tolerant  Vitis  vinifera
varieties will still be organic viticulture.

5.3.

Data concerning the current use of pesticides in viticulture and other major crops was
obtained  from  Eurostat.  From  1992  to  1996,  more  than  100 000  t  of  active
ingredients were used annually on grapevines in the EU-15, which accounts for about
40% of the total pesticide application in the entire agricultural sector.

6

 
5.4.

5.5.

5.6.

5.7.

5.8.

Therefore,  mildew  tolerant  cultivars,  which  are  suitable  to  produce  wines  of  good
quality, would definitely have a market potential. In recent years, more than 600 ha
of  the  recently  bred,  mildew  tolerant  Vitis  vinifera  variety  "Regent"2,  have  been
planted in Germany.

This  would  not  only  be  beneficial  for  the  German  wine  industry  in  general,
especially  for  organic  grape  production,  but  it  would  also  lead  to  a  significant
reduction in the consumption of fungicides.

Hungary  has  already  more  than  8 000  ha  of  interspecific  varieties  planted,  which
represent a little less than 10% of the total area under vine in Hungary.

Early  attempts  to  introduce  pest  and  disease  resistance  into  Vitis  vinifera  from
tolerant  American  species  has  resulted  in  a  large  number  of  interspecific  varieties.
The  so-called  direct  producers  are  the  outcome  of  such  early  crossings,  with  their
name  referring  to  the  fact  that  they  can  give  drinkable  wine  without  having  to  be
grafted onto a rootstock. Most of them are sufficiently resistant to reduce fungicide
application significantly but produce wine of low quality.

The use of either more sophisticated interspecific crosses or varieties like Regent has
the potential to reduce significantly the application of fungicides in the  future.  One
major  use  of  these  varieties  would  most  likely  be  the  production  of  wine  from
organic production grapes.

6.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON MARKET EQUILIBRIUM

As regards the impact on the EU wine market, the findings of the study can be summarised as
follows:

6.1.

6.2.

6.3.

2

If  Regulation  (EC)  No  1493/1999  maintains  the  principle  of  a  prohibition  of  the
planting of vines of wine grape varieties until 31 July 2010, the total area under vine
will  not  be  affected  by  the  possible  introduction  of  interspecific  varieties  for
producing quality wine.

Bearing in mind that, in such a case, the  yields of interspecific varieties have to be
regulated  and  should  be  similar  to  the  yields  of  Vitis  vinifera,  the  total  volume  of
wine  produced  would  not  change  considerably  and  the  current  balance  would  be
preserved.

The  area  of  interspecific  varieties,  which  could  be  planted  in  the  EU,  has  been
calculated  in  the  study  on  the  basis  of  an  index,  which  takes  into  account  several
parameters like:

(cid:1)  adequacy to climatic conditions,
(cid:1)  organic farming policy,

Regent is registered in Germany as a Vitis vinifera variety,  showing relatively  high resistance  against
fungal  diseases.  Based  on  practical  experience  with  Regent,  a  reduction  of  80%  in  the  application  of
plant protection compounds can be achieved compared to traditional varieties. However, discussions are
still going on at the International Vine and Wine Office about Regent in order to establish if it is a Vitis
vinifera or an interspecific variety.

7

 
                                                
(cid:1)  adequacy to market needs.

6.4.

On the basis of this index, and taking into consideration that the average yields of the
interspecific  varieties  should  be  similar  to  those  of  the  Vitis  vinifera  varieties,  the
study has calculated the following potential production of quality wine psr produced
with interspecific varieties:

Table 1 – Average yield (in hl/ha) and estimated production (in hl)

Austria

France Germany Greece Hungary

Italy

Portugal

Spain

UK

Total

50

58

92

50

45

58

35

32

20

46 351

562 030

242 717

14 525

124 948

333 221

33 168 137 038

2 836 1 496 834

92 701

1 124 061

485 433

29 050

209 486

666 442

66 336 274 077

3 672 2 951 258

185 402

2 248 122

970 867

58 100

378 563 1 332 884 132 672 548 153

5 344 5 860 106

Average
yield

Production
5 years

Production
10 years

Production
20 years

6.5.

6.6.

6.7.

7.

7.1.

If  a  total  annual  production  of  quality  wine  of  70  million  hl  is  considered,
interspecific varieties could represent 4,2% of the total quality wine production after
10  years  and  8,4%  of  the  total  quality  wine  production  after  20  years.  When
considering the total wine production (160 million hl), it could represent 1,8% of the
total production after 10 years and 3,7% after 20 years.

If  the  limitation  on  planting  rights  continues  after  2010,  the  introduction  of
interspecific varieties should  not  have  any  impact  on  the  total  wine  supply  and  the
current market equilibrium should be preserved.

The  situation  would  be  very  different  in  the  case  of  a  deregulated  market  (with  no
more restriction on the plantation of vine). This does not concern only interspecific
varieties  but  also  Vitis  vinifera  varieties:  in  this  case  it  is  very  difficult  to  estimate
wine market balance and such an estimation was not the object of the report.

CONCLUSION OF THE STUDY

The  great  majority  of  interspecific  varieties  is  not  suitable  to  produce  quality  wine
psr.  For  the  time  being,  it  appears  that  only  a  few  of  them  could  be  authorised  to
produce  quality  wine  psr.  Furthermore,  it  is  likely  that,  in  case  that  they  were
authorised, it is not the current interspecific varieties, for the most part, that would be
used in the future for producing quality wine psr. Moreover, they could be extremely
useful to produce wines issued of the organic farming agriculture.

8

 
8.

8.1.

SUGGESTIONS

Based  on  the  above  analysis,  the  Commission  for  the  time  being,  suggests  the
following approach:

(cid:1)  To  keep,  for  the  time  being,  the  interdiction  on  the  use  of  the  interspecific

varieties in order to produce quality wines psr.

(cid:1)  This  would  encourage  continuing  the  research  in  order  to  breed  new,  better

interspecific varieties suitable for producing quality wines psr.

9.

DEFINITIONS

direct producer

vines with sufficient Phylloxera tolerance to be grown without
being grafted

interspecific
hybrids

interspecific
varieties

mildew

see interspecific varieties

synonymous  to  interspecific  hybrids.  Varieties,  which  can  be
traced  back  to  crossings  of  Vitis  vinifera  varieties  with  non-
Vitis vinifera varieties. In the report, only the term interspecific
varieties is used for reasons of uniformity

various  vineyard  fungi  that  can  cause  severe  damage  if  not
treated  for  prevention.  There  are  two  main  types:  powdery
mildew and downy mildew

phylloxera

a tiny aphid-like insect that attacks the roots of grapevines

psr

tannins

variety

produced in a specified region

complex  group  of  compounds  comprising  phenols,  hydroxy
acids and others

subdivision  of  a  species,  with  common  anatomical  and
morphological characteristics, emerged due to either natural or
artificial genetic isolation, e.g. vegetative propagation

10.

LIST OF THE VARIETIES SELECTED FOR THE STUDY ON THE USE OF THE VARIETIES
OF INTERSPECIFIC VINES, DIVIDED INTO WHITE AND RED WINE VARIETIES

(cid:1)  Villard blanc (white)
(cid:1)  Seyval blanc (white)
(cid:1)  Bianca (white)
(cid:1)  Zalagyöngye (=Pearl of Zala) (white)
(cid:1)  Medina (red)
(cid:1)  Regent (red)
(cid:1)  Villard noir (red)
(cid:1)  Couderc noir (red).

9