Argentina advances bill to deregulate wine industry

The administration of President Javier Milei is advancing a bill to amend Argentina’s General Wine Law (Law 14,878) as part of a broader deregulation agenda. The proposal seeks to loosen the legal definition of wine and reduce state oversight of the production process.

Key changes include removing the requirement that wine be made from “fresh grapes” or must produced in the same production area. The bill would also eliminate the obligation to bottle wine at the place of harvest. Critics argue these shifts could allow for the use of stored or concentrated must throughout the year, potentially decoupling production from harvest cycles and negatively impacting prices for grape growers.

Additionally, the reform would significantly reduce the role of the National Viticulture Institute (INV). Under the new framework, the institute would focus its supervision on the final bottled product rather than intermediate production stages, placing greater reliance on sworn declarations provided by wineries.