D5 Fortified Wine - Regulators

THE CONSEJO REGULADOR (Sherry)

Sherry’s Consejo Regulador was the first to be registered in Spain, in 1933.

It maintains all the vineyard registers and sets parameters such as maximum yields and minimum
alcohol levels for base wines.

It also oversees the rotation of stock in the bodegas and verifies the authenticity of age-dated
Sherries.

The Consejo Regulador is a major promotional body, engaging in many forms of marketing that range
from the organisation of events during International Sherry Week to running educational courses for
wine professionals.

Sherry used to be used as a generic term for fortified wine made with white grapes. In the mid-
1990s, the Consejo Regulador successfully campaigned for this term to only be used (at least within
the EU) for the wines of DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and DO Manzanilla – Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Wine
legislation and labelling terms as set by the Consejo Regulador have been covered throughout the
previous sections.

The IVDP (Port)

IVDP = a professional body formed in 2003, controls and and supervises the production and
trade of wines in Douro (both unfortified and Port)

It also:

- Regulates the amount of port that can be produced every year (the Beneficio)
- Holds the register of vineyards and companies that produce and ship
- Control volume of Port that can be released onto the market every year (i.e. set at
maximum of 1/3 of a shipper’s total)
- Analyses and tastes port wines to ensure specs are met to defined Port styles
- Promotes Port and unfortified wine from Douro

The IVBAM (Madeira)

Founded in 2006, IVBAM is responsible for coordinating and supporting the wine and embroidery
industries in Madeira.

IVBAM plays an active role in monitoring Madeira stocks and quality control. Representatives must
be present at grape reception and at the beginning and end of the ageing process to seal and then
unseal the maturation vessel.

An IVBAM tasting panel and laboratory check the profile of wines to be labelled with an age
indication or a vintage year.

Technicians from IVBAM will also pay visits to the growers on the island and give advice and support
as needed.

IVBAM also set the regulations as part of the production and labelling of Madeira, many of which
have been mentioned in the previous sections.
D5 Fortified Wine - Regulators

The Muscat of Rutherglen Network (Rutherglen Muscat)

The Muscat of Rutherglen Network was founded in 1995 to promote sales of Rutherglen Muscat.

This network introduced a classification system of four descriptions (RM, Classic RM, Grand RM, Rare
Rm) based on richness, complexity and intensity. The wines are classified on taste, rather than age –
although age is a major factor that determines style. As the level of classification increases, the
number of vintages in the blend and the span of age between the oldest and youngest component
wines will generally be greater.

The production of Rutherglen Muscat is in the hands of only a few wineries, the majority belonging
to the Muscat of Rutherglen Network. Hence, it is a significant producer.