Organic & Natural Wine Labelling: EU Ingredient Rules You Should Know
Organic and natural wines still fall under EU labelling law. This guide covers which additives are allowed, sulphite limits, the EU organic logo, and how shorter ingredient lists can become a marketing advantage.
How Organic Wine Regulation Differs from Conventional
EU organic wine is governed by a two-layer framework. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 sets the overarching rules for organic production and labelling across all food categories. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 then specifies which substances and techniques are authorised for organic winemaking.
The key differences from conventional wine production:
- Stricter additive limits. Organic winemakers operate from a shorter approved list of oenological substances. Many synthetic processing aids permitted in conventional winemaking are banned.
- Lower sulphite ceilings. Maximum total sulphur dioxide is 100 mg/L for red wines and 150 mg/L for white and rose wines under organic rules. By comparison, conventional limits are 150 mg/L for reds and 200 mg/L for whites and roses.
- Restricted techniques. Certain processes like partial dealcoholisation and electrodialysis are more tightly controlled or prohibited.
Despite these differences, organic wines enter the same marketplace and must meet the same consumer-facing labelling obligations under Regulation (EU) 2021/2117. That means a full ingredient list, a nutrition declaration, and allergen information, whether on the physical label or via an e-label QR code.
What Organic Winemakers Still Need to Declare
A common misconception is that organic wine needs no ingredient declaration because it is "natural." In reality, even the most minimal organic wine uses some inputs that must be listed.
Ingredients organic wines commonly use:
| Ingredient | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur dioxide (SO2) | Preservative / allergen | Used in nearly all organic wines, just at lower levels |
| Bentonite | Fining agent (processing aid) | Clay-based; used for protein stabilisation |
| Pea protein | Fining agent (processing aid) | Plant-based alternative to animal-derived agents |
| Tartaric acid | Acidity regulator | Must be of agricultural origin for organic |
| Yeasts | Fermentation | Both indigenous and selected yeasts are permitted |
| Sugar / concentrated grape must | Enrichment | Where chaptalisation is allowed regionally |
Ingredients organic wines cannot use (but conventional wines can):
- Potassium ferrocyanide (for iron stabilisation)
- PVPP - polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (for colour/phenol correction)
- Ion exchange resins
- Sorbic acid / potassium sorbate
- Dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC)
Because the "cannot use" list is long, the resulting ingredient list on an organic wine label tends to be noticeably shorter. This is worth emphasising to consumers who value transparency.
Practical example: organic red wine ingredient list
Ingredients: Grapes*, sulphur dioxide. *From organic farming.
Compare that with a possible conventional red wine list:
Ingredients: Grapes, sulphur dioxide, L-ascorbic acid, metatartaric acid, gum arabic. Contains sulphites.
The organic label is simpler, cleaner, and easier for consumers to read, a genuine competitive advantage.
Natural Wine: No Official EU Definition, Same Labelling Rules
The natural wine movement has grown rapidly, built around the principle of minimal intervention: native yeasts, little or no sulphite addition, no fining, no filtration. However, the EU has not established a legal definition for "natural wine." There is no equivalent of the organic certification framework.
This means:
- No protected term. Producers can use the word "natural" on labels, but it is not regulated in the way "organic" is. Some member states have started developing voluntary charters (for example, the French "Vin Methode Nature" label introduced in 2020), but these are not EU-wide legal requirements.
- Same labelling obligations. Whether a wine calls itself natural, minimal-intervention, low-intervention, or zero-zero, it must comply with Regulation (EU) 2021/2117. Full ingredient list and nutrition declaration are mandatory.
- Allergen declaration still applies. Even wines with zero added sulphites can contain naturally occurring sulphur dioxide above the 10 mg/L threshold. If so, "contains sulphites" must appear on the physical label.
Practical example: natural wine with no additives
A natural wine made from only grapes and nothing else would still need a label:
Ingredients: Grapes. Contains sulphites (if naturally present above 10 mg/L).
Even the shortest possible ingredient list must be formally declared.
The Advantage of Shorter Ingredient Lists
Organic and low-intervention wines have a genuine labelling advantage that many producers overlook. Under the current transparency rules, every additive and every allergen is visible to the consumer, either on the bottle or through the e-label QR code.
A wine with two ingredients listed looks very different from one with eight. For the growing segment of consumers who check labels before buying (a behaviour the new rules have accelerated), a short ingredient list signals quality and care.
How to turn this into a selling point:
- Let the ingredient list speak for itself. A short list does not need explanation. It communicates naturally.
- On your physical label, the "Contains sulphites" declaration and the energy value are mandatory anyway. For organic wines, the ingredient list behind the QR is often so short that consumers are pleasantly surprised.
- Pair it with the EU organic logo (discussed below) for maximum trust.
The EU Organic Logo: When and How to Use It
If your wine is certified organic and produced within the EU, the EU organic logo (the green leaf made of stars) is mandatory on the physical label. This is required by Regulation (EU) 2018/848, Article 33.
Key rules for the logo:
- Mandatory for EU-produced organic products. If your wine is certified organic and made in the EU, the logo must appear.
- Optional for imported organic wines. Wines certified organic but produced outside the EU may use the logo but are not required to.
- Placement rules. The logo must appear in the same field of vision as the indication of origin. It must be at least 13.5 mm tall (or 9 mm for small packages).
- Code number. The code number of the certifying body must appear near the logo.
- Origin indication. Below or near the logo, the label must state where the agricultural raw materials were farmed: "EU Agriculture," "non-EU Agriculture," or the specific country name.
The organic logo and the e-label QR code serve different purposes but complement each other well. The logo signals organic status at a glance on the shelf. The QR code provides the detailed ingredient and nutrition information that EU law now requires.
Nutrition Declaration: Same Rules for Everyone
Regardless of whether a wine is organic, natural, or conventional, the nutrition declaration follows identical rules. Per 100 ml, you must declare:
- Energy (kJ and kcal)
- Fat
- Carbohydrates (of which sugars)
- Protein
- Salt
Organic status does not change these values in any meaningful way. A 13.5% ABV organic red and a 13.5% ABV conventional red will have virtually identical energy and macronutrient values. The nutrition calculation is driven by alcohol content and residual sugar, not by production method.
This is important because some producers assume organic certification changes what they need to report nutritionally. It does not. The rules, calculations, and format are identical.
How ScanThisWine Handles Organic Wine Labels
ScanThisWine makes building a compliant e-label straightforward for organic and natural wine producers:
- Select only the ingredients you use. Since organic wines use fewer additives, you will select fewer items from our grouped ingredient lists. The result is a clean, accurate label.
- Automatic allergen highlighting. Sulphites and any other allergens are automatically bolded in the ingredient list, as required by EU law.
- Nutrition auto-calculation. Enter your ABV and residual sugar, and the platform calculates the full nutrition table. The same method applies whether your wine is organic or conventional.
- All EU languages from one form. Your ingredient list and nutrition data are translated into every official EU language, served from a single QR code based on the consumer's browser language.
- No tracking, no marketing. The e-label page complies with EU rules: product information only, no cookies, no analytics.
You handle the EU organic logo and the "Contains..." allergen text on your physical label. ScanThisWine handles everything behind the QR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do organic wines need the same e-label as conventional wines? Yes. Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 applies to all wines regardless of production method. Organic wines must provide a full ingredient list and nutrition declaration, either on the physical label or via a QR-linked e-label.
Q2: Can I write "natural wine" on my EU label? There is no EU-level legal definition for "natural wine," so the term is not formally protected or prohibited. You may use it, but it does not exempt you from any labelling requirement. Check your national rules as well, as some member states have guidance on how the term can be used.
Q3: My organic wine has no added sulphites. Do I still need to declare "contains sulphites"? If the total sulphur dioxide in the finished wine is 10 mg/L or above, including naturally occurring SO2 from fermentation, you must declare "contains sulphites" on the physical label. Most wines, even those with nothing added, exceed this threshold.
Q4: Does organic certification change the nutrition values on my label? No. Nutrition values are calculated from the wine's alcohol content, residual sugar, and other measurable components. The production method (organic, biodynamic, conventional) does not affect these figures. A 13% ABV dry red has the same energy value regardless of how it was made.
If you produce organic or natural wine, the new rules work in your favor. Your shorter ingredient list is a competitive advantage.
Let consumers see it. Create your e-label at scanthiswine.com, free.
