By Note: Unfortunately, I was unable to find more information on this alert other than one article. However, I found the topic interesting enough to post as a wine law update, as I have never come across Polish wine law in my studies. If you are familiar with this new provision, or have any other details regarding this topic, please e-mail me at lazahn@winelawonreserve.com.
A progressive change is in store for Polish winemakers: Polish winemaking law has reportedly been liberalized to allow a significant modification in practice for Polish winemakers. Polish Parliament approved an amendment to the Act on the Production and Bottling of Wine that assimilates Polish law to contemporary European regulations. The amendment repeals an existing law from 2004 and will come into effect fourteen days from the date of its publication. Accordingly, under the new law, Polish farmers will be able to sell their own fruit and grade wines and without registering as a business.
The Roman Grad President of the Zielona Góra Winemaking Association of Poland indicated that the new Act is beneficial to wine producers in Poland and will help strengthen the Polish winemaking industry. (Zielona Góra is a city in Lubusz Voivodeship in western Poland. It is particularly known for its wineries with its first winery built around 1314. The number of vineyards in the region at peak production is estimated to be 4,000 with 2,500 in Zielona Góra alone.) It has long been the aim of the Zielona Góra Winemaking Association to attain such legal resolution, as the Association firmly believes this will enhance Polish’s wine industry as well as improve the attractiveness of the Zielona Góra region to potential grape growers and wine producers. The President explained that, in Poland, to produce 100 hectoliters of wine requires two acres of vineyard, and very few farms in Poland are this size. “He added that some farmers have barely few-acre vineyards and treat the production of wine as a hobby.” (See Polish Market Online: Polish Winemaking Law Liberated.) The President predicts that the new rules will allow the sale of homemade wine in, “for example, agritourist farms, which will give additional income to farmers. It will also be possible to purchase homemade grape wine directly from the manufacturer—straight from the barrel.” Sale of the wine, as well as bottling, will also be allowed in local stores and restaurants.
(Source: Polish Market Online: Polish Winemaking Law Liberated.)
DISCLAIMER: This blog post is not intended as legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship results. Please consult your own attorney for legal advice.
This post is for general information purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
