A wine-like beverage is a beverage containing alcohol (at least 5% alcohol by volume) that can be enjoyed like wine and is similar to it in terms of its obvious characteristics (such as appearance, flavour or smell). According to German food law, this includes drinks produced by alcoholic fermentation but not from grapes, such as fruit wines(apple wine, pear wine, redcurrant wine, etc.), honey wine (mead) and rice wine.
In Austria, fruit wines are not categorised as wine-like beverages, but are regulated by the Wine Act. See also under wine-based drinks and mixed wine drinks as well as speciality wines (from Alcopop wine to Zwölfapostelwein).
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For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien