Tejo PGI wines now allowed at just 0.5% alcohol

Producers in Portugal’s Tejo region can now label wines with just 0.5% alcohol as PGI, following new rules approved by the Tejo General Council and IVV (Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho I.P.).

The updated regulations lower the minimum abv for IG level wines from 9% to 7.5%, while maintaining 10.5% for standard reds, whites and rosés. Critically, winemakers may now partially dealcoholise wines and still achieve PGI certification, provided the final product contains at least 0.5% alcohol.

Luis de Castro, president of CVR Tejo, sees this as a major opportunity for the UK market. “Tejo’s diversity and cooler climate make it ideal for lighter styles,” he said. “We can now offer a range of exciting new wines that meet the growing demand for moderation.”

The changes are expected to boost Tejo’s presence in the UK, where interest in low-alcohol wines continues to rise.