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Additional labeling requirements for flavored wine products

Previously, we reported on the mandatory declaration of nutritional values and ingredients on wine, a change in the law that took effect in late 2023. In addition, additional labeling requirements specific to flavored wine products were announced in February. In this post, we update you on the new labeling requirements for flavored wine products.

On Feb. 15, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/585 was published containing additional labeling requirements for flavored wine products. Vermouth, Sangria and Glühwein are examples of flavored wine products, where aromas and other ingredients such as grape must, alcohol, colorings and sugars are added to wine.

Under this new regulation, all ingredients used in the production of flavored wine products must be listed. This information can be displayed directly on the label or through electronic means referenced on the label, such as through a QR code. However, allergens should always be listed directly on the label, given the importance of making this information readily available to consumers.

Ingredient List

The ingredients that serve as the basis for the flavored wine product must be clearly distinguishable from the added ingredients. This means that the ingredients of the wine products are listed in parentheses, after the word "wine" or other designation for the specific wine products used. Other added ingredients are listed outside the brackets.

For example, an ingredient declaration for Sangria might look like this:

Ingredients: red wine (grapes, concentrated grape must, preservative: E220 [SULFIET], stabilizer: E466), water, sugar, food acid (citric acid), natural fruit and cinnamon extracts.
Bottled under protective atmosphere.

Allergen Listing

Regarding the allergen declaration, a distinction is made between allergens added during the production process or before bottling of wine products. When sulfites, eggs, and egg-based and/or milk-based products are added during the production process of wine products, they should be in parentheses. In contrast, when they are added to the flavored wine product before bottling, they should be listed outside the parentheses.

In addition to the required textual statement (contains sulfite, egg and/or milk), it is also permitted to use pictograms (see illustration), as with regular wine products.

Packing gases

Some additives, such as carbon dioxide, argon and nitrogen, are used primarily as packaging gas to displace oxygen during the bottling of flavored wine products. These additives are not part of the product as it is ultimately consumed. Therefore, listing these additives may be confusing to consumers, which is why they do not need to be included in the ingredient list. Instead, the statement "Bottled under protective atmosphere" should be placed.

The new Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/585 came into force on Feb. 18, 2024. Aromatized wine products labeled according to the regulation between Dec. 8, 2023, and Feb. 18, 2024, can still be sold until stocks are exhausted, even if they do not meet the new labeling requirements.

Want to know more?

Précon can help you with the labeling of your products. Contact us at info@precongroup.com, NL +31 (0)30 65 66 010 or BE +32 (0)11 26 99 07.

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