With the 2020 vintage coming to an end, winemakers are turning their attention to the blending, bottling and label design of new release wines.
The blending rules, based on the Wine Australia Regulations 2018, shown in the table below, provide the perfect reference for winemakers when determining label claims.
It is important to note that there are no tolerances or exemptions to the blending rules, the regulations state that for single claims, at least 850ml/L (85 per cent) of the wine must have been obtained from the vintage, variety or region named.
The rules for multiple claims are slightly more complex, but may offer a welcome solution to winemakers when difficult vintage conditions prevail. Blends previously claimed as single origin, may become a combination of several geographical indications (GIs). For example, if you have a wine that is 60 per cent Adelaide Hills, 25 per cent McLaren Vale and 10 per cent Langhorne Creek, it won’t meet the 85 per cent requirement for a single GI claim, but you could make a multiple GI claim of Adelaide Hills; McLaren Vale; Langhorne Creek. The combination of the three regions meet the 95 per cent minimum requirement for combined GI claims. In making your claim you need to ensure that the regions claimed appear in descending order and that each GI claimed accounts for more than 5 per cent. A maximum of three GIs can be claimed.
For more information on the blending rules and to access a Chinese translation, please refer to our website.
If in doubt about your claims, please contact the label integrity inspectors for help at labels@wineaustralia.com or call us at 08 8228 2000.
