U.S. halts some Italian, Bordeaux wine imports

Does it matter what the label on your wine bottle says? Yes, quite a lot, according to the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) which has halted the import of certain Italian and French wines.

The federal agency, which approves the labels of wines imported into the United States, is withholding that approval from all wines from Montepulciano and Saint Emilion.

"It's similar to the issues involving Brunello," TTB spokesman Art Resnick said, referring to the import restrictions placed on one of Italy's premier wines earlier this summer.

Italian authorities suspected winemakers were using grapes other than the only one allowed - Sangiovese - in Brunello di Montalcino. Bottles were seized at the vineyards and U.S. imports blocked. The matter was resolved when the Italian government agreed to certify the wines' authenticity.

"It's not a safety issue," Resnick said on Wednesday. "It's a labeling issue. We're concerned about consumer deception."

"It's the same thing as the Brunello. There are laws in Italy regarding the grapes that are used and they are investigating some of the producers because they were apparently not in accordance with the regulations," Resnick said, adding they were holding back those label approvals as well.

Italy's Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia who intervened this year to lift the U.S block on Brunello sales, on Thursday stood by the quality of Montepluciano wine and said he was getting in touch with the U.S authorities to resolve the issue.

"We reiterate that Montepulciano quality is the best. But those who have made mistakes will pay ... without undermining the work of honest producers who respect the rules," Zaia said in a statement.