Wine Label Ingredients: Exact Rules & Examples

The European Union has introduced significant changes to wine labelling rules, ushering in a new era of transparency for consumers. These changes, driven by Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, mandate more comprehensive information about the wine people drink.

The new rules entered into application on 8 December 2023. They apply to all wines and aromatised wine products from the harvest of 2024 onwards. An important exception applies: wines produced before 8 December 2023 are exempt from the new requirements until existing stocks are exhausted. This offers a practical grace period for older vintages.

The reform narrows the gap between wine and other food products, which have long been required to provide detailed ingredients and nutrition information. The aim is simple: help consumers make more informed choices.

Mandatory Information for Wine Labels

For the first time, wine labels must now include a nutrition declaration and a list of ingredients.

The Ingredients List

The new rules require a full list of ingredients. In practice:

• Additives must be declared. They may be shown using functional category + specific name (or E-number) in line with general EU food-labelling practice for additives.
• Processing aids are not listed as ingredients unless they are allergens still present in the finished wine (even in altered form). Fining agents usually count as processing aids; declare them only if they are allergens still present.

The Nutrition Declaration

The nutrition declaration must cover:

• Energy value in kJ and kcal; and
• Amounts of fat, carbohydrates (of which sugars), protein, and salt per 100 g or 100 ml.

It's common for wine to show 0 for fat, protein, and salt (and sometimes very low carbohydrates in dry wines). Alcohol itself contributes significantly to the energy value.

Allergenic Substances

Allergenic substances (for example sulphites) must always be displayed on the physical label. Where relevant, the indication should use the word "contains" followed by the allergen name as listed in EU allergen rules (Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011).

The new rules officially entered into application on 8 December 2023. They apply to all wines and aromatised wine products from the harvest of 2024 onwards. Wines produced before 8 December 2023 are exempt until their stocks are exhausted.

Physical vs. Digital: Options for Displaying Information

Winemakers now have two primary options for presenting the mandatory information:

1. The Traditional Physical Label

All required information is printed directly on the bottle.

Pros: Familiar to consumers; no new tech or QR management.
Cons: Can clutter carefully designed labels; updates require reprinting, which can be costly if details change.

2. The Modern E-Label (via QR Code)

A QR code on the bottle links to a digital page that contains the detailed information.

Pros: Saves valuable label space; allows rich content that's easy to update; can be more cost-effective over time (no reprints for minor changes).
Cons: Requires a digital solution to host and maintain the page.

Crucially, regardless of method, allergenic substances and the energy value must always appear on the physical label. The energy value may be expressed using the "E" symbol for energy.

Strict Guidelines for E-Labels

If you choose the e-label route, the EU sets strict conditions to ensure trust and transparency:

• Clear identification: The QR link must be clearly identified, and the word "Ingredients" must be easy to find on the digital page.
• No marketing content: The e-label must not contain sales or marketing information. It is strictly for compliance details.
• No data collection or tracking: Producers are forbidden from collecting or tracking user data from QR scans.
• Product specificity: The QR code should lead only to the product to which the information applies.
• Accessibility: Information online should be as clearly visible and accessible to consumers as if it were on a physical label.

Edge Cases: Processing Aids and Fining

The ingredient list focuses on ingredients (including additives). Processing aids used during winemaking (e.g., to clarify, stabilise, or adjust the wine) are not listed as ingredients unless they are allergens still present in the finished product. Fining agents typically fall under processing aids; declare them only if they are allergens still present (even in altered form). This is the key distinction to keep in mind when drafting ingredient lists.

Simplifying Compliance with E-Labels

Navigating these rules can be complex, but dedicated e-label solutions can simplify the transition. Platforms like ScanThisWine are designed to help producers:

• Ensure compliance: Keep up with EU labelling requirements.
• Support all languages: Provide information across the 24 official EU languages from a single QR code.
• Automate calculations: Generate nutrition values from basic wine analysis data.
• Stay future-proof: Adapt to regulatory changes without reprinting physical labels.
• Prevent tracking: Deliver e-labels without user tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: When do the new EU wine labelling rules for ingredients and nutrition take effect?
They apply from 8 December 2023 and cover wines and aromatised wine products from the harvest of 2024 onwards. Wines produced before that date are exempt until stocks are exhausted.

Q2: What must be included in the ingredient list?
A full list of ingredients, including additives used in production. Processing aids are not listed unless they are allergens still present in the finished wine.

Q3: Do allergens or energy values have to be on the physical label if I use an e-label?
Yes. Allergenic substances (e.g., sulphites) and the energy value must always be displayed directly on the bottle. The full ingredients list and nutrition table can be provided via the QR e-label.

Q4: Can an e-label include marketing information or track consumer data?
No. E-labels are for mandatory compliance information only. No marketing content and no tracking or data collection from QR scans are allowed.

Ready to build an ingredient-ready e-label? (Free)

Services like ScanThisWine help you create compliant labels quickly – keeping allergens and energy on-bottle and the full list + nutrition online via a clean, multilingual QR. And best of all, ScanThisWine is completely free for all to use!