Understanding the New EU Wine Label Regulations: A Simple Guide

The European Union has introduced significant changes to wine labeling rules, marking a new era of transparency for consumers. These new regulations, primarily driven by Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, are designed to provide more comprehensive information about the wine you drink.

When Do These Changes Apply?

The new rules officially entered into application on December 8, 2023. They apply to all wines and aromatised wine products from the harvest of 2024 onwards.

Important Exception: Wines produced before December 8, 2023, are exempt from these new requirements until their existing stocks are exhausted. This gives wineries a grace period for older vintages.

What's Actually Changing for Wine Labels?

For the first time, wine labels must now include a nutrition declaration and a list of ingredients. This change aims to bridge the gap between wine and other food products, which have long been required to provide such detailed information. The goal is to empower consumers to make more informed choices.

Key additions include:

A full list of ingredients, including additives or processing aids.
A nutrition declaration covering energy value (calories), fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt.

Physical vs. Digital: Choosing Your Compliance Path

Winemakers have two primary options for presenting this new mandatory information:

Option 1: The Traditional Physical Label

This approach involves printing all the required information directly on the physical wine bottle label.

Pros: Familiar, no new technology required.
Cons: Can clutter a carefully designed label, costly to update if information changes.

Option 2: The Modern E-Label (via QR Code)

This method uses a QR code on the bottle to link to a digital page with the detailed information.

Pros: Saves precious label space, allows for rich and updatable content, cost-effective.
Cons: Requires a digital solution to host the information.

Crucial Requirement: Regardless of your chosen method, allergenic substances (like sulfites) and the energy value (calories) must always be displayed directly on the physical label.

Key Rules for E-Labels: Consumer Protection First

If you choose the e-label route, the EU has established strict guidelines to ensure consumer trust and transparency:

Clear Identification: The link or QR code must be clearly identified. The word "ingredients" must be easily found on the digital label.
No Marketing Content: The e-label must not contain any sales or marketing information. It is for compliance information only.
No Data Collection or Tracking: You are strictly forbidden from collecting or tracking any user data from those who scan the QR code.

How to Simplify Your Transition to Compliance

While these new regulations aim for greater transparency, they can present administrative challenges. This is where modern platforms come in. A dedicated e-label solution can help you:

Ensure Full Compliance: Stay up-to-date with all EU regulations automatically.
Support All Languages: Provide information in all 24 official EU languages with a single click.
Automate Calculations: Generate nutritional values from basic wine analysis data.
Stay Future-Proof: Adapt to any future changes in regulations without reprinting labels.

Ready to Get Started?

Navigating new regulations can be complex, but the right tools make it simple. Platforms like ScanThisWine are designed to help you create fully compliant, professional e-labels in minutes.

Focus on what you do best - making great wine - and let a dedicated solution handle the compliance.