Catalan winemakers start implementing new EU wine label regulation

Catalan winemakers have started to implement the new European regulation requiring the inclusion of ingredients, allergens, and nutritional information on wine labels.

Although the legislation is already in place, the first bottles with the new label information will not arrive until next year. 

The law requires allergens and intolerances to be listed on the label or physically attached to the product, while ingredients and nutritional information can optionally be disclosed by "electronic means," such as a QR code. 

For small producers, adapting to the new regulation has become a challenging task. The 24 wineries in Porrera, a town in Tarragona, have banded together to hire a company to do the labeling and create QR codes. 

Gerard Batllevell, owner of the Joan Simó winery and coordinator of the Porrera Winery Association, says that implementing the new European regulation has caused them a few headaches and additional costs. 

One effort that producers will have to make in some cases is to obtain nutritional information. "We already have some parameters from our regular analyses. Others we will have to find," he explains. "In some cases, it will be an additional cost and task," he says.  

Batllevell doubts that consumers will read the codes and look for information on wineries' websites. He says the most interesting data is that on allergens, especially for people with intolerances. For others, he is not sure "if it is absolutely necessary to provide this information."