EU Wine labels – Frequently asked questions

From 8 December 2023, wines and aromatised wine products placed on the EU market and produced after that date must include a nutrition declaration and a list of ingredients (including allergens) in addition to existing mandatory label information. Producers may present the full nutrition / ingredient details via an electronic means (e.g. QR code or URL), subject to constraints (e.g. no marketing content, no user tracking)

Some mandatory data (e.g. energy value, allergens) must still appear on the physical label.

No, wines produced (or imported) before 8 December 2023 are exempt and may continue to be marketed under old labeling until existing stocks are exhausted.

Only wines from 2024 harvest onward (i.e. produced after the cutoff) must comply.

Even if using a QR to host full nutrition and ingredient info, the physical label must still include:
• Energy value (kJ / kcal per 100 mL)
• Any substances causing allergies or intolerances (e.g. “contains sulphites”)
• All other standard mandatory label information (e.g. wine category, alcoholic strength, origin, net contents, bottler / producer)

Additionally, the physical label must include a clear heading (e.g. “Ingredients” / “Nutrition Declaration”) near or adjacent to the QR code to indicate what the QR leads to. (winegrowerscanada.ca)

The full nutrition declaration (beyond just energy) and the complete list of ingredients (with additives, processing aids, etc.) may be provided via electronic means (QR / URL) instead of printing all details on the label.

However, the electronic content must directly present factual, mandatory data (nutrition & ingredients) without marketing, promotion, or user tracking.

No. The regulation requires that the electronic means (page via QR / URL) contain only the mandatory information (nutrition, ingredients) and must not include promotional, marketing or sales content. Likewise, you may not embed user tracking or analytics on that page (see next question).

No. The e-label page must avoid any collection of user data or tracking (e.g. analytics, cookies) in order to maintain compliance. It must be a “clean” informational page, solely for the purpose of delivering required data.

The e-label must support translation into the official language(s) of the market(s) where the wine is sold.

eWinetag offers automatic translation into all 24 EU languages and shows country-specific info via geolocation.

The e-label content should remain accessible for at least as long as the wine is on the market / available (i.e. for the lifetime of shelf / storage).

eWinetag allows producer to choose how long to keep the label online. By default, we store it for 10 years.

Practically speaking, it must not be removed prematurely, so consumers scanning at any point during the product’s life can access the data.

If a wine does not comply, it may be withdrawn from the market, penalised under administrative rules, and face reputational damage. Enforcement is handled by national authorities in each Member State.

Yes, wines that have undergone de-alcoholisation or have an actual alcoholic strength below a threshold must include a minimum date of durability on the label.

For wine products with < 10 % alcohol by volume, the minimum durability date rule applies.

The regulation considers wine “produced” when the alcoholic fermentation is completed, and the wine has the required strength, acidity, and is in its finished state.

In particular, “produced” includes after any second fermentation or modifications. So if a wine is fermented or modified after Dec 8 2023, it is considered under the new regime, even if some processes cross the date boundary.

A QR Code on wine labels is a small, scannable matrix barcode printed on the bottle (or its label) which, when scanned, sends the user to a digital “e-label” (electronic label) containing detailed information (e.g. nutrition, ingredients) that can’t all be printed on the physical label.

We at eWinetag call this an “E-Label” — a QR-driven digital label to meet EU / Italian regulatory demands.

Using a QR / e-label lets you include more detailed information (full nutrition data, ingredient list, processing aids) without cluttering the physical label.

It also allows updates and edits after printing — you can change the digital content while retaining the same QR code / URL link.

Furthermore, eWinetag’s platform handles compliance complexity (translations, regulatory changes) for you.

According to eWinetag’s guidelines:
• The QR code should appear in the same “field of vision” as the mandatory label information (not hidden).
• It should be accompanied by a clear heading (e.g. “Ingredients” or “Nutrition Declaration”) to indicate what it links to.
• Minimum printed size: at least 13 mm × 13 mm.
• Also, energy values (kJ / kcal per 100 mL) must still appear on the physical label, with font size ≥ 1.2 mm.

Yes. eWinetag allows you to edit the e-label content even after the QR / link is printed, while keeping the same QR / URL.

Thus you can print QR codes ahead of time and update the digital side as needed (for e.g. revised data).

For compliance and clarity, typically each wine (or version / vintage) has its own e-label entry. The system is flexible in redirection.

Yes. eWinetag supports redirecting QR scans to a dedicated e-label page on your own website (while maintaining regulatory compliance).

E-label page must remain free of marketing content and user tracking. If you are planning to use the redirection to your own site, make sure there are no cookies and tracking on your domain level or that affects whole website.

No, not for marketing or sales purposes. The EU regulation requires that the QR / e-label page contain only the mandatory data (nutrition, ingredients) and must not host promotional content or sales features.

eWinetag ensures the redirected e-label is free of marketing or tracking.

No, the QR codes generated by eWinetag are standard QR codes and are scannable by any smartphone.

Customers can scan the QR codes with smartphone camera which already has a built-in QR scanner or general QR reader.

When a consumer scans the QR code on the wine bottle (via their phone’s camera or QR reader), they are directed to the e-label page (hosted by eWinetag or on your site via redirect).

The e-label page then shows required data: ingredient list, nutrition values, allergens, etc.

To minimize instances where a phone can’t read the QR code, adhere to strong printing / design practices.
• Minimum size of QR code when printed
• Contrast / Color of the QR code
• Print resolution / clarity of Label
• Substrate & finishing effects of Label
• Error correction level
• Have margin around code
• Avoid distortion & skew
• Pre-print testing & verification
• Adjust for substrate / humidity / production shifts

Yes, the QR codes generated by our website are universally scannable by all smartphones with QR code scanning capabilities. This ensures seamless access to the E-Label information for consumers.

• eWinetag provides a user-friendly interface with templates built to satisfy EU & Italian wine/packaging labelling rules.
• The system automatically handles “mandatory fields,” such as energy values, ingredients lists, allergens, etc., and guides the user so none of the required data is omitted.
• It offers automatic translation into all 24 EU languages and country-specific displays via geolocation, so you can comply with multi‐market requirements without separate label versions.
• It supports QR redirection / embedding (so you can host the e-label via your site or use their hosting) while enforcing that the QR / e-label page remain purely informational (no marketing, no tracking).

Yes. eWinetag allows you to edit the e-label content after it’s been generated/linked, while preserving the same QR / URL redirection.

This flexibility lets you update nutrition info, ingredients, corrections, etc., without needing to reprint QR codes.

You control how long the e-label remains accessible. eWinetag keeps the label online for as long as you need. By default, we have e-label online for 10 years.

Yes. eWinetag advertises that QR codes are redirectable and that there is no lock-in.

This means if you migrate to another system, you should be able to point the existing QR to that new provider’s URL (assuming proper setup).

Yes. The platform is designed for multi-market use. Because of the automatic translation and geolocation support, the same QR / e-label setup can serve multiple EU markets while showing correct language and local info.

You also select your compliance level (EU only, or EU + Italian packaging) depending on your markets.

• eWinetag claims to continuously adapt to legal changes — i.e. their system evolves as regulations shift.
• Their templates and drop-downs are populated from “official sources,” reducing error risk.
• They offer support / customer service for migration, integration, and label updates.
• Some plans come with “free admin help for migrating existing labels.”

• The e-label page is strictly limited to informational content (nutritional data, ingredient list) and must not include promotional / marketing or sales content.
• eWinetag does not embed tracking, analytics, or user data capture on the QR landing page.
• Because QR redirect or hosting is controlled by their system, they enforce these constraints via their platform architecture.

1. Create or log into your eWinetag account.
2. Choose target compliance (EU only or including Italian packaging) and fill out mandatory fields (wine type, ingredients, nutritional data, etc.).
3. eWinetag provides automated or suggested values (especially for energy, glycerol, acidity) depending on wine type, which you can adjust if you have lab analysis.
4. Generate the e-label / QR, with translation support and geolocation configurations.
5. Download / export the QR code or embed redirecting settings to your website / packaging.
6. Test the QR, preview the e-label page, and check correctness.

• The Free / “Basic” plan allows: up to 4 new e-labels and up to 40 e-label storage capacity.
• Standard plan: up to 50 new e-labels, storage up to 500 e-labels.
• Premium plan: up to 500 new e-labels, storage up to 2,500 e-labels.

These limits may change. check the latest pricing / plan page.

Yes. After creating the e-label in the platform, you can view / manage it. In your dashboard, you can view, download each e-label.

This lets you check layout, translations, data correctness before committing to large print runs.

Absolutely! We provide industry-leading customer support to assist you with any queries or concerns. Our dedicated team is ready to help you navigate the E-Labeling process and address any technical issues.

Yes, our E-Label solution aligns with the packaging and recycling laws of various EU countries, including Italy. By using our service, wineries can ensure compliance with multiple regulations through a single platform.

We prioritize data security and follow industry-standard practices to protect your information. Our website employs encryption protocols and safeguards to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of your data.

Yes, eWinetag offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans, allowing you to try the service risk-free. Also you can try our basic membership plan which is completely free.

Basic Plan: Email support.
Standard and Premium Plans: Email, chat, and phone support, along with free administrative assistance for migrating existing labels.

Yes, all plans include automatic translation of your wine labels into 24 EU languages, enhancing accessibility across different markets.

Yes, you can upgrade your plan at any time to accommodate your growing needs.

eWinetag offers competitive pricing:
50 e-labels: €199 with eWinetag, compared to €360 with Scantrust, €300 with e-label.io, and €400 with Bottlebooks.
500 e-labels: €299 with eWinetag, compared to €1,500 with Scantrust, €1,450 with e-label.io, and €2,500 with Bottlebooks.