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Eataly fined €50k for misleading wine labels

Italian food supermarket, Eataly, has been slapped with a €50,000 fine after Italy's antitrust association (AGCM) ruled it had misled consumers over wines containing sulfates.

Published: 11 May 2016 07:00 CEST

Eataly fined €50k for misleading wine labels

The labels led consumers to believe the wine was sulphite-free. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Between April 2014 and January 2016 the food supermarket, which is renowned for its high-end Italian food and drink, sold wines which were marked with an ambiguous sticker marking them as 'vino libero.'

'Vino libero' (literally translating as 'free wine) stickers were used on wines free from chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.

But the wines in question were not free from sulphites, chemical compounds of sulphur and oxygen, which are used as preservatives in wine-making.

A fact which Italian consumer rights organization, Codacons, said took advantage of shoppers when it brought the case to the attention of the antitrust organization last year.

Although the wines sold as 'free' did contain a reduced level of sulphites (at least forty percent lower than the maximum level set by the EU), the AGCM ruled the stickers were “highly misleading”.

“The labels cause customers to assume embellished bottles are completely free from sulphites,” they said in their ruling.

In addition to hitting the posh supermarket with a fine, they also ordered that the labels be changed to include the caveat “contains at least forty percent less sulphites than the legal limit.”

The use of sulphites in wine-making has come under fire in recent years, with health associations saying the compounds can cause allergic reactions and wine buffs arguing they stop good wines from maturing properly.

As a result a flourishing market has sprung up around sulphite-free wines as customers are willing to pay more for wines made without the preservatives.

Since first opening its doors in 2007, Eataly has risen to become the world's largest Italian food supermarket, and was named by Forbes as one of the most 'disruptive brands' of 2015.

The chain now has international stores in Seoul, New York,Tokyo and Istanbul with further openings planned for London, Hong Kong, Paris, Mexico City and Moscow.

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Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

Italy’s favourite aperitivo-hour cocktails are known far beyond the country’s borders, so their names will probably be familiar to you whether you drink them or not.

But if you’re in Italy and not drinking alcohol, you might find yourself stumped when it comes time to order your aperitivo at the bar.

The first time I found myself in this situation, there was no menu. The waiter instead rattled off a long list of all the soft drinks available, most of which I’d never heard of, and I just picked something I thought sounded nice.

Luckily it turns out that Italy has some great options for an aperitivo analcolico. As well as ‘virgin’ versions of well-known cocktails, there are bitters, sodas and other Italian-made soft drinks that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

They might not be quite as iconic as the Aperol Spritz, but they’re as thoroughly Italian – plus, effortlessly ordering one of these will make you look like a true local.

SanBittèr

San Pellegrino’s SanBittèr is one of the most famous non-alcoholic Italian drinks of all, with its highly-recognisable red packaging, often enjoyed in place of Campari cocktails because of its similar dark, ruby-red color.

This drink is carbonated with a slightly sweet, citrus flavor. The recipe is more complex than that of an orange or lemon soda, with notes of spice and herbs, making it ideal to pair with your aperitivo-hour snacks.

Crodino

Crodino looks a lot like an Aperol Spritz with its bright orange hue, and that’s not an accident: it’s said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative, and the zesty, slightly herbal taste is similar. It’s typically served the same way. in a round goblet glass over ice with a slice of orange: a Crodino Spritz.

The name comes from the town of Crodo in Piedmont, where it is still bottled today by the Campari group.

Chinotto

Citrusy Chinotto is an acquired taste for many, but it’s worth trying: it’s one of the classic Italian bitters and is said to have a long history, dating back to a recipe shared by Chinese sailors arriving on the Ligurian coast in the 1500s.

It may look a little like Coca Cola, but don’t let the appearance fool you.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky /Getty Images via AFP)

Aranciata/Limonata

Aranciata is Italy’s version of an orange soda, but not as sugary, and it tastes like oranges. Its base is sparkling water with the addition of orange juice and sugar. There are various brands, but San Pellegrino’s is the most popular. It also sells a ‘bitter’ aranciata amaro, with even less sugar, more citrus tang and herbal notes, which might be more aperitivo-hour appropriate.

Limonata is, as you might guess, the Italian answer to lemonade. Again there are many versions out there but the fizzy San Pellegrino limonata is beloved for its strong, sweet-sour flavour and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

Cedrata

Cedrata is one of Italy’s oldest and best-known non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a refreshing, carbonated drink made from a large citrus fruit called a cedro, grown in southern Italy. It’s far less bitter than a Chinotto, but not as sweet as limonata.

The main producer of Cedrata today is Tassoni, and this is what you’re likely to get if you order it at a bar.

Gingerino

This is harder to find than the other aperitivi on the list and is seen as decidedly retro, but it’s worth trying if you can track it down.

It’s another orange-coloured, sparkling drink which became popular in Italy in the 1970s and is still sold today, though you’re more likely to find it in the north-east, close to Venice, where it’s produced.

You may be expecting it to taste a lot like ginger beer, and there are similarities, but it has stronger citrus notes and more bitterness.

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