Priority official inspections during the harvest

By: STA Date: 2025. 08. 26. 10:30

The National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) is once again carrying out a series of priority inspections during the harvest period this year. The focus of the inspections is on wine-producing plants and grape buyers. The aim of the campaign is, among other things, to ensure that the must strength and quantity of the harvested grapes are accurately recorded during the harvest, which can be considered the first step in wine production.

(Photo: Pixabay)

By inspecting grape processing, the authority obtains authentic reference data, which can later serve as an important basis for comparison for the accurate verification of the origin of wine-producing products. By recording the results of the inspections carried out at the site of the inspection (in situ), a database is created, which, broken down by vintage, place of production and grape variety, assists the authority in carrying out its tasks related to the quality assurance and protection of origin of wine-producing products. The information can be used to ensure official control from the harvesting of the vines to the process of selling the bottles. During unannounced harvest inspections, wine inspectors use certified measuring devices to check the must strength and the quantity of harvested grapes. The measured values are compared with the data in the winery’s records.

Nébih also carries out so-called authentic grape sampling at 55 locations

During this, grapes sufficient to make a few liters of wine are harvested at each location, from which the so-called 2025 reference wines will be made under precisely defined, controlled conditions. Their detailed analytical values (including stable isotope values) will serve as a basis for comparison during the random inspections of the 2025 vintage wines. Nébih’s inspections serve to protect wine producers as well as consumers. The distribution of illegally produced wine products also adversely affects honest players in the wine sector. Effective official control is in the fundamental interest of the winemaking community.

Nébih