GLOBAL: Regulation poses biggest threat to wine

By James Lawrence | 9 November 2010

High taxes and sales restrictions "demonise" wine - Mauss

The biggest threat that the global wine industry faces is the governmental war on excessive drinking, according to Grand Jury Européen founder François Mauss.

Speaking late last week at the World Wine Symposium in Lake Como, Mauss told just-drinks that taxation and government regulation of alcohol consumption was a big menace to winemakers across the globe.

“We must remember that wine is much more than just alcohol. That is just one component of a complex and ancient culture”, he said, on the sidelines of the conference. “Today, governments are very keen to crack down on excessive drinking and wine consumption, unfortunately, is in danger of becoming demonised."

Mauss, a controversial and dissenting voice in the wine world, started the annual World Wine Symposium last year in order to bring producers, journalists and importers together to discuss the future of the industry. “Wine production is essential to the European economy," he said.

Sectors: Legislation, Wine