Wine is a premier agricultural product of the EU and exported worldwide. It is crucial to keep up reputation of EU wine and to minimise malpractices, mainly sugaring and watering, that may undermine the position of EU wine on the internal and international markets.

The activities of the JRC in support of the EU wine legislation started with the establishment of the EU wine databank in 1991, followed by the creation of the European Office for Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks (BEVABS) in 1993. It has played a fundamental role in helping the EU Member States to develop the scientific and technical competences needed to carry out isotopic analysis of wine. The databank contains the isotopic composition of wines collected from across the EU so that competent authorities in Member States can request information when disputes or court cases arise.

The wine reform in 2008 has confirmed the importance of EU quality wines linked to their geographical origin and varietal identification. Risk of fraud related to origin/variety exists; consequently, the remit of BEVABS was extended to cover those areas. In 2013, BEVABS became the European Reference Centre for Control in the Wine Sector to take into account the new scope.

It is an important tool to detect the undeclared addition of sugar before fermentation to increase alcoholic strength and addition of water. The data can also be used to assess the correctness of geographical indications.

It is accessible to authorised users only.

More information about the data protection record and the privacy statement of Wine Databank can be found in the DPO Public register here.