Along Luxembourg’s Moselle wine region, every bottle is subject to strict controls, placing wine inspectors at the heart of safeguarding quality and authenticity.
For Paul Thill, the role of wine inspector is nothing short of a dream job. Since June 2023, Thill has been working as a wine inspector at the Wine Institute (IVV). A trained chemist, he said a passion for wine is an advantage, but not essential. However, a good understanding of both national and European legislation is important.
According to Thill, the responsibilities of a wine inspector are varied. They include checking winemakers’ cellars to ensure that stock levels match declared production, as well as verifying labelling and administrative records. Each wine must be documented in a cellar register, allowing inspectors to trace how it was handled before bottling, he said.
Tasting, which Thill described as the interesting aspect, also forms part of the job, particularly for wines bearing the Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) label, all of which are assessed locally. However, tasting does not mean drinking.
Additionally, wine is treated as a food product and must meet strict technical criteria, which are analysed in the IVV’s laboratory.
Some wines do fail inspection, according to Thill. He said that wine, as a living product, can be affected by experimentation or production issues. In such cases, winemakers are given the opportunity to make adjustments and resubmit their product for evaluation.
Unlike in some countries, Thill said fraud is not a major concern in Luxembourg. He explained that, as a small market where producers know each other, protecting the sector is essential. Wines must comply with the specifications set out under the AOP framework, ensuring authenticity.
Even wines produced by the state-owned estate in Remich are subject to the same strict checks, Thill said. He added that tastings are conducted blind, meaning inspectors do not know the origin of the samples they are evaluating. This ensures impartiality in the selection process.
Wine inspection is not unique to Luxembourg. It is a requirement across the European Union, with each country responsible for monitoring its own market, according to Thill. Imported wines are also checked to ensure they comply with national and EU regulations, he said.
