The European Union (EU) will finance up to 80% of the acquisition of equipment to combat climate change in vineyards and wineries. This is the so-called “Wine Package”, a set of measures aimed at strengthening the European wine sector, which is expected to come into force between January and February of this year.
It is a flexible set of tools designed to support the sector before the next reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) comes into effect.
Measures to address the consequences of climate change in EU vineyards and wineries
Last December, the Commission, the Parliament and the Council reached a far-reaching legislative agreement whose main objective is to modernise and support the development of the European wine sector.
This set of measures, known as the Wine Package, takes the form of a series of flexible actions designed to facilitate crisis management in the sector, allocate greater funding to the promotion of wines and wine tourism activities, improve supply regulation (such as vineyard grubbing-up), and develop clearer and simpler labelling for de-alcoholised products and allergens, with a view to supporting exports.
The aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of wines produced in the European Union in the face of challenges such as climate change and the current trade tensions. In other words, to maintain the sector’s dynamism by making it more resilient to uncertainty.
Formal adoption is expected to take place between late January and February 2026.
Key points of the Wine Package
The main elements of this package of measures are as follows:
With regard to funding and financing, European and national contributions may reach up to 90% for small operators and up to 80% for larger companies. This will make it possible to cover expenses such as advertising, event organisation, participation in trade fairs and the carrying out of studies, with a financing plan of up to three years, renewable up to a total of nine years. To ensure access to these funds for small operators, Member States will be required to implement measures that facilitate their participation.
The plan also allows EU funds to be used to implement crisis measures. These include vineyard grubbing-up, which had previously been excluded. This ensures that winegrowers in all countries enjoy equal opportunities, as they will not depend solely on national funds.
In addition, the plan includes a series of measures to combat climate change and promote sustainability. In this regard, funding will be provided for the acquisition of equipment to mitigate the effects of climate change (covering up to 80% of its cost), as well as to encourage the development of sustainable practices. The plan also states that, in the event of natural disasters, extreme weather events, outbreaks of plant diseases or pests, winegrowers will have an additional year to plant or replant the affected vineyards. This measure is of vital importance in Spain, as it ensures the continuity of production in key wine-growing regions.
In the area of innovation, the European Union foresees the expansion of oenological practices and the creation of categories for wines with reduced or zero alcohol content. This represents a clear commitment to new consumers who have been gained in recent years and who have driven a notable increase in sales of de-alcoholised wines. From the entry into force of this plan, products with up to 0.05% alcohol may be labelled as “alcohol-free”, while those with 0.5% or more alcohol, with a minimum reduction of 30% compared to their original strength, may be labelled as “reduced alcohol”. This will help Spanish wineries adapt to new consumer demands, enabling them to expand their range without compromising quality or brand recognition.
New Wine Package: overall assessment
At WINERYON, as in the rest of the sector, we hope that the new measures can be implemented and developed as quickly as possible. We also expect their introduction to strengthen the role currently played by European wine companies and wineries. We believe that these new tools will enable us to expand and consolidate our presence in international markets. We are ready to rise to the challenge.
