Wine

04/03/2013
 

General information – obligations of “minor winemakers”

Obligation of “minor winemakers” to keep records and obligation to send statement on vintage, production and stocks

Almost any administrative demands are not put by European legislation on “minor winemaker” that does not do his business in the field of viniculture and viticulture but regards these activities as a tradition associated with the region where he lives. That is to say that activities of these minor winemakers do not affect the European wine market which is regulated and protected by respective legislation as a matter of priority.

Keeping of records

All winemakers that do not put their wines on the market and sell them to consumers directly in the cellars are freed from keeping of records by respective EU legislation. Of course that winemakers for whom making of wine is a gainful employment and put their wines on the market have to keep rules laid down by European and national legislation that protect in particular final consumers as a result.
After amendment of the Act on Viniculture and Viticulture, also trade middlemen shall keep records pursuant to Section 30 Para 3 – 5 of this Act (effective since 1. 1. 2012).

Sending of statement

Out of the three statements (on vintage, product and stocks), every winemaker is obliged to send only the statement on stocks, which is sent once a year.
If the winemaker owns less than 10 ares of vineyards where the wines originate and are not put on the market but only offered for direct consumption in his own cellar, he does not have to send any other statements. The same applies for winemakers that buy a part or all grapes used for the production wine but the total volume of the produced wine is lower than 10 hectolitres.
If the winemaker owns more than 10 ares of vineyards and all the grapes grown there are processed into wine or more than 10 hectolitres is produced, he has to send a statement on stocks and on production as well.

How to submit obligatory statement in wine year 2011/2012 – see websites of CISTA

The facts mentioned above mean that minor winemakers possessing own cellars near developing wine trails and would like to offer their wines only for direct consumption in their cellars, are not swamped with administrative burdens. The entire administration consists in sending one or two statements to CISTA once a year.

Note: Act no. 199/2012 Coll. amended Act no. 321/2004 Coll. – obligation to submit statement on purchase was abolished (effective since 1 July 2012).