In the first part of this multi-part article we dealt with wine specification, packaging and labeling. We saw how a wine’s quality relies on grape variety, color, taste, but also on the producer’s way of approaching the process of wine making. This article is centered on the Nordic wine market, therefore we mentioned specificities related the region, noticing that, even though the Nordic wine market can be treated as a whole, there are small differences in terms of consumers’ taste, that a potential investor should pay attention too. In addition to that we found out that Nordic consumers are opened to tasting wines coming from the New World.
We shall now talk about the wine market in Nordic countries with an eye on legislative and non-legislative requirements necessary for any potential investor. The European Union has a set of requirements concerning winemaking. Strict oenological practices must be put in place. The Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries informs that “producers of wine destined for the European market must present a certificate and analysis report for their wine to show that they comply with the oenological requirements”. Sulphite content must not be higher than 150 mg/l in red wine or 200 mg/l in white wine. Exceptions are accepted for certain types of specific origin wines. CBI reminds investors in the EU food business that they must “implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)”. In terms of food contamination, the European Union has strict requirements as well that have to be fully complied with.
On the other hand there is also a set of non-legislative demands for investors in the wine business. CBI notices that “the requirements concerning sulphites of many European buyers are stricter than EU legislative requirements”. Nordic consumers are more and more preoccupied with environmental issues. Therefore, even though chemical fertilizers are very helpful to wine producers, their use should be limited as much as possible. On the other hand, if a producer wants to acquire an organic wine label, the winemaking process must follow strict EU regulations. An accredited auditor will asses if the wine production process complies with the EU demands. Food safety is an important factor as well. Success is closer if producers pay attention to the way they introduce their brand to the potential buyer. Professionalism in communication is crucial.
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