Argentine Institute of Viticulture Launches New Wine Promotion Program

On December 2, 2021, Resolution 24/2021, issued by the National Institute of Viticulture (INV), was published in the Official Gazette, approving the “Programa Vino Cercano” (Bringing Wine Closer Program), establishing the requirements for consumers to purchase wine in empty glass containers in authorized winemaking establishments.

The use of returnable glass or glazed ceramic containers promotes the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental protection.

According to the resolution, wine-producing establishments that wish to fractionate their products into empty glass containers provided by the consumer must request the corresponding authorization from the INV.

In addition, the places authorized for the sale of products included in General Wine Law No. 14,878 may benefit from the  program as long as they have stainless steel containers supplied by a Service Provider of Steel Containers for the direct consumption of wine and registered with the INV.

The resolution also establishes that the containers must only be made of glass or glazed ceramic with a minimum capacity of 1.9 liters and a maximum of 2.5 liters and must be in optimum condition for filling and subsequent closure.

Containers must have a label or tag with at least the following information:

• Company name of the bottling establishment and INV registration number
• Legal name of the product and chromatic characteristics
• Free circulation analysis number
• Alcohol content
• Net content

Glass or ceramic containers supplied by places authorized for the fractionation of products using the stainless steel container system provided by a Service Provider must be closed and have a label or tag containing at least the following information:

• Business name
• Registration Number of the Service Provider of stainless steel containers for the direct consumption of wine
• Free circulation analysis number
• Alcohol content
• Net content

The resolution approved the model of a sign indicating the authorized point of sale of the program, which must be displayed in the registered establishment (see link ANNEX).

Failure to comply with this resolution is subject to sanction under General Wine Law No. 14,878.

The resolution does not stipulate that any trademark be mentioned on the label or tag. However, according to the terms of the resolution mentioned above, the label or tag may include a trademark name.