🏷 Wine label, law and health

The label of a wine sold in the EU must show by law (Regulation 1308/2013, Article 119, and Delegated Regulation 2019/33): the category of the grapevine product (wine, liqueur wine, quality sparkling wine…); for PDO and PGI wines the term “protected designation of origin” or “protected geographical indication” with the name; the actual alcoholic strength in % vol.; the provenance; the bottler or, for sparkling wines, the producer or vendor; the importer for imported wine; and for sparkling wines the sugar term. Allergens must be declared, including sulphites above 10 mg/l.

Since Regulation 2021/2117, wines produced from 8 December 2023 also need a list of ingredients and a nutrition declaration. The energy value must be on the label; the full list may be given by electronic means such as a QR code, without collecting user data. De-alcoholised wines must say so, and drinks under 10 % vol. must show a date of minimum durability.

A PDO wine is made entirely from grapes of its area; a PGI wine needs at least 85 %. Traditional terms such as Reserva, Spätlese or vin doux naturel are protected, and the register of names is public in eAmbrosia.

Why it matters to you. The category and the PDO or PGI name tell you which rules apply. Sulphur dioxide is limited to 150 mg/l in red and 200 mg/l in white and rosé wines with less than 5 g/l of sugar. WHO: there is no safe level of alcohol, and alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer.