EU approves lower alcohol and yields for Manzanilla sherry

The European Union has approved a standard amendment to the product specification of the Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda protected designation of origin (PDO), lowering the minimum actual alcoholic strength of its wines from 15% to 14% by volume and tightening maximum production limits. The decision was communicated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain and published in the Official Journal of the European Union (C series, C/2026/4513) on 24 August 2026.

The amendment, registered under EU reference PDO-ES-A1482-AM06 of 27 May 2026, was notified under Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 on geographical indications. The competent authority classified it as a standard amendment because it does not change the name or category of the product, does not risk voiding the link with the geographical area, and does not impose further restrictions on marketing.

Lower alcoholic strength

The minimum actual alcoholic strength of the wines, covering both category 1 (wine) and category 3 (liqueur wine), has been reduced from 15% to 14% by volume. The change is possible because the PDO is included in the list of liqueur wines whose aged-wine alcoholic strength is not less than 14% and less than 15% by volume, as set out in Section C of Appendix 1 to Annex III to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934.

The amendment affects point B.2 of the product specification and point 6 of the single document. The single document now records a minimum actual alcoholic strength of 14% by volume for both wine and liqueur wine, with sugar content below 4 g/l.

Tighter yields and new estates

Maximum production per hectare has been cut from 14,285 kg/ha to 12,570 kg/ha, although the new limit will not enter into force until the 2028/29 marketing year. Until then, the previous ceiling of 14,285 kg/ha continues to apply.

• The Regulatory Board may, depending on circumstances, reduce the maximum production limit for each marketing year by up to 20%, with any such agreement adopted before 1 October of the preceding marketing year.
• Three new smaller geographical units (estates) have been added to Annex 2 of the specification: Torre de Cera in Jerez de la Frontera, and Encinilla-Grija and Loma de Vejines in the municipality of Lebrija.
• The demarcated area spans ten municipalities, including Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María, Trebujena, Chipiona, Rota, Puerto Real, Chiclana de la Frontera, Lebrija and San José del Valle.
• The wines are produced from the Palomino and Palomino Fino – Listán Blanco grape varieties, with a maximum yield of 11,428 kg of grapes per hectare.

Impact on the sherry trade

The change directly affects Andalusian sherry producers, who must now adapt their specifications and labelling to the lower alcohol threshold while complying with the stricter yield ceilings. The reduction in maximum yields is intended to safeguard quality and the link between the wines and their chalky ‘albariza’ soils, while the new estates recognised in the demarcated area broaden the scope of the designation. For consumers and the wine trade, the amendment confirms that Manzanilla wines may be released at a slightly lower alcoholic strength, potentially easing production costs and expanding the range of wines eligible for the PDO.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C series, C/2026/4513, 24 August 2026 (official reference: CELEX C/2026/4513).