Concern as EU relaxes rules on vineyard planting rights

Controversial new rules that make it theoretically possible for anyone to get commercial vineyard planting rights on any piece of land – such as on the banks of the Seine in Paris – have received a cautious reception from French winemakers. The long-mooted and much-debated deregulation of vineyard planting rights across the European Union came into effect on 1 January 1 2016.