Is infused wine another crime to add to 19 Crimes?

Australian wine company Treasury Wine Estates is launching a Red wine infused with coffee. Could this be a shot to enlighten innovation or a crime against wine?

Infusing wine has been going on for as long as wine. Herbs and spices are often found in the remains of wine from before Roman times. But until recently only Italian Vermouth or the lesser spotted Greek Retsina were likely to be found in the UK. Neither are likely to get the blood pumping unless you like a martini.

Infused and flavoured wines have typically been at the entry level, such as Echo Falls Summer Fruits or the own label versions that are appearing in the supermarkets. 19 Crimes is not an entry level wine like much of the new wave of infused wines, but at around £7 a bottle, it is not expensive.

The problem with all these flavoured wines is that they are not legally wine. Apart from a few specific examples such as Vermouth and Retsina, flavoured wines are not technically classified as wine within the EU.