🍷 OIV International Code of Oenological Practices

The International Code of Oenological Practices is a set of rules on what may be done with grapes and wine. It is published by the OIV, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. The code describes permitted methods, from clearing wine by fining to the use of sulphites.

Oenology is the science of wine. The code gathers its practice in one place. It exists so that countries understand in the same way which methods are acceptable. For example, it sets limits for sulphites.

The code does not replace local laws. In the European Union winemaking is also governed by Regulation 1308/2013 on the common organisation of markets. But many national rules are based on OIV recommendations.

For an ordinary buyer the code is invisible. Thanks to it, wines from different countries are made under comparable rules. The code is updated from time to time: new decisions taken by the member countries of the organisation are added to it.