🏷️ Wine without geographical indication

Wine without geographical indication is the simplest wine category in the European Union. Such wine used to be called table wine. Its label has no protected name of an area: it does not say the wine comes from a particular place, so the grapes may be picked in different areas and even in different countries of the Union.

The category stands on the bottom step of the European “pyramid”. Above it come wines with a protected geographical indication and wines with a protected designation of origin, which have stricter rules. For wine without indication the rules are simpler: fewer requirements on grape varieties, yields and ageing.

Since 2009 the label of such a wine may show the grape variety and vintage, if this is verified. Before, that was forbidden. Different countries have their own names for these wines. In France it is “Vin de France”, in Italy “Vino da tavola”, in Germany “Deutscher Wein”. These names already point to the country but not to an area.

Wine without indication can be very good or simple. For the buyer the main thing is to read the label. Wine without geographical indication is part of wine classification. Alcohol is for adults.