The Italian ministries of Economy and Agriculture approved a unified decree that legalizes the production and sale of non-alcoholic wine and establishes uniform rules for its production. The new document streamlines production, storage, logistics, and distribution of non-alcoholic wine and removes questions about excise taxes, enabling local winemakers to compete with EU neighbors on equal terms.

Why this matters?
⦁ Previously there were no clear regulations, which put Italian producers at a disadvantage compared to German and French colleagues.
⦁ The decree ends a lengthy legal uncertainty and officially recognizes non-alcoholic wine as part of the national wine industry.
⦁ A single standard has been introduced for licensing, taxation, labeling, and logistics.

This is part of a global trend toward non-alcoholic wines, which is gaining momentum in the world industry.
However, will these wines remain recognizable? Time will tell.