How to prepare your field for the new regulation: key steps and good practices

The recent evolution of wine labelling rules in Europe, including mandatory nutrition values and full list of ingredients, is a real challenge for winemakers. However, with proper preparation, this constraint can turn into an opportunity to enhance the transparency of your products and strengthen consumer confidence.

In this article, we offer you a practical guide in several steps to effectively anticipate the necessary analyses, compile your list of ingredients and choose the display mode of your information: physical label or electronic label via a QR code.

1. Stay informed and understand regulations

The first step is to become familiar with the new obligations in detail. Producers must now post nutrition information (energy, fat, saturated fats, carbohydrates, sugars, proteins, salt) and the list of ingredients on each bottle as of December 2023. In December 2024, all marketed references will have to comply with it.

For more information on the regulations and solutions available, do not hesitate to consult Vinesio, a platform specialized in accompanying winegrowers towards compliance.

2. Perform the necessary analyses

To obtain the exact nutritional values of your wines, it is essential to carry out laboratory analyses. These will determine:

• Energy (kJ/kcal) per 100 ml
• The content of carbohydrates, sugars, proteins, fats and salt

The earlier you start these analyses, the more time you will have to refine your data and anticipate necessary adjustments. Once you have the results in hand, you can easily integrate them into a centralized database.

The Vinesio platform offers tools to import and manage these analyses, facilitating automatic generation of required nutritional values.

3. Make a complete list of ingredients

The list of ingredients includes all elements present in the finished product, including additives, preservatives, stabilizers, acidity regulators, packaging gases and allergenic substances (sulphites, milk, egg). Non-allergenic processing aids, if not found in the final product, do not need to be listed.

Drawing up a rigorous list requires in-depth knowledge of the winemaking process and the oenological products used. Consult your specifications, cellar records and supplier data sheets. Any ingredient present, even in modified form, must be included.

By centralizing this information on a platform like Vinesio, you can easily manage and update the composition of each cuvée.

4. Choose between a physical label and a QR code

The regulation allows for information to be displayed directly on the label or made available via a QR code referring to a dedicated web page. Each option has advantages:

• Physical label: More traditional, it guarantees immediate access to data, but space is limited and does not allow easy updating.
• QR code: Flexibility of update, saving space on the label, possibility to add additional content (history of the domain, wine-tasting agreements, translations in several languages). This is a particularly interesting solution for producers who want to innovate and communicate more widely.

The Vinesio platform facilitates the creation of personalized QR codes, guaranteed for life, and the implementation of multilingual and scalable web pages.

5. Anticipate translation of information

If you sell your wines abroad, it is recommended to offer the information in the language of the target market. A multilingual approach will enhance your credibility and promote consumer understanding.

The use of a QR code greatly simplifies this step, because it is enough to create a web page translating all the information. Thanks to the machine translation services available on Vinesio, you can offer your data in 24 languages without effort.

6. Train your team and communicate

The success of this transition also depends on the involvement of your staff. Let your team know about the regulatory changes, show them how to answer customer questions and share the importance of this new transparency.

Also take advantage of this update to communicate on your social networks, website and marketing materials. Highlight your commitment to transparency, quality and compliance to strengthen your brand image.

7. Test, adjust and stay up to date

Once you have completed your analysis, established your list of ingredients, and chosen your display mode, test your system. Check that the QR codes work, that the information is complete and understandable, and that the nutritional data matches your analysis.

Regulations and consumer expectations can change, so stay informed and adjust your labelling accordingly. With Vinesio, you have a flexible tool that allows you to update your information in real time.

Compliance with the new wine labelling regulations is not only a legal obligation: it is also an opportunity to demonstrate your transparency, strengthen the trust of your customers and stand out in an increasingly competitive market. By following these key steps and relying on specialized tools such as Vinesio, you will be ready to take this step without any problems, while further enhancing your estate and your cuvées.