Bottle of wine with label and nutritional values on a smartphone

During production of wine labels, the QR code is applied and produced at the same time. Image: Marzek Etiketten+Packaging

E-labels for wine conform to new EU requirements

From 08 December, 2023, all wines, sparkling wines, fruit wines and aromatised wines sold in the European Union must provide information about ingredients, allergens, caloric and nutritional values on a label on the bottle, as stipulated by EU Regulation (EU) 2021/2017 which now treats wines like all other foods with regard to declaration. The change not only affects the labels on the bottles themselves, but also their representation in online shops. Here, the information can be made available using QR codes.

A simple and practical solution has now been developed by the Austrian wine label manufacturer Marzek together with Bottlebooks, a supplier of global product data management systems. Using so-called e-labels, information can be made available in compliance with the law, simple and in short time. Another advantage of the Bottlebooks e-label is, that the information is displayed in the respective language of each smartphone. Wine exporters thereby save on translating the tables of nutritional values.

When manufacturing the wine labels, Marzek also creates the QR code and adds it to the label without needing an extra step. Each QR code is also a GS1 Digital Link, which makes products web-compatible, and which contains the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) for unique identification world-wide. Marzek then sends wine producers a link which allows them to edit the information provided by the Bottlebooks e-label in a manner that is both simple and conforms to legal requirements.

Wine bottle and QR code scan carried out by smartphone

The QR code on the wine label grants access to all information concerning the product. Image: Marzek

Labels and smart e-labels from a single source

This way, wine producers receive everything from a single supplier and only enter the nutritional values and ingredients of their products themselves – without being pressed for time, even if the contents are already bottled and the labels have already been produced. Updating the information is easily possible even at a later date in time.

„We are very happy that the cooperation with Bottlebooks allows us to offer our wine producers a simple solution for implementing the new EU Nutrition Declaration in a manner that is both appropriate for our modern times and compliant with legal requirements. Our customers can now simply have the QR code created and applied together with the next production run of labels. Afterwards, they can enter the relevant ingredients and nutritional values without being under pressure.“

Dr. Johannes Michael Wareka, owner of the family business Marzek Etiketten + Packaging in the 4th generation

„Two renowned companies are now contributing their respective strengths to the partnership between Bottlebooks and Marzek, in order to make implementing the new EU Regulation as easy as possible. With this solution, wine producers can rest assured that they will be able to meet the legal requirements today and in the future.“

Jonathan Harclerode, CEO of Bottlebooks

QR code leads directly to website

Other suppliers, too, have developed comparable tools. For example Scantrust, a Swiss technology supplier for connected packaging. The Scantrust e-label offers an online software tool for digital exchange and the administration of product information data on labels and packaging, especially for the wine and spirits industry. The tool supports the generation of QR codes used for placing on labels and packaging. The system also immediately generates the websites necessary for supplying the desired product information. This way, wine producers can provide product information to their customers without having to print all product details on a label which does not have enough space, anyway.