TV programme says wine is no better than alcopops

A Channel 4 Television programme Dispatches claimed this week that some wines are little better than alcopops by revealing that some wine producers use additives to enhance the flavour of wine and fail to list all of the ingredients on the label.

The ‘What's in your wine?' programme featured wine experts including Jancis Robinson who after tasting 80 non vintage champagnes rated only 30 as representing good value.

Drinks industry bodies have hit back with Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), defending the strict regulations that exist to oversee the wine making process and ensure products meet stringent health and safety standards. He also argued that the cost of labelling wine would be hugely expensive at an estimated one billion Euros to the industry over three years.