Like most packaged food products and beverages, information on a wine label must contain all of the important ingredients and display a number of required details before it can be legally sold in the United States. There are nine main requirements that the information on a wine label must include.
The Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) requires that wine, including mead and cider, should adhere to the spirit of the regulations as described by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as follows:
"Regulations exist to prevent the deception of the consumer and provide them with 'adequate information' as to the identity and quality of the product, to prohibit false or misleading statements, and to provide information as to the alcohol content of the product."
The FAA Act provides further guidance with the following goals for wine labels:
In a sample label provided by Advanced Labels, the minimum indications on a wine label should include:
1. The name of the brand or manufacturer
2. The name and address of the bottler
3. The varietal designation
4. The appellation of origin
5. Alcohol content/concentration
6. The date of the vintage
7. Net volume
8. A declaration of sulfate contents
The following is a description of the above label requirements.
1. Brand or Producer Name
This is the name of the manufacturer or winery by which or where the wine is produced. If a brand name is not available, the name of the producer can be used here. The size of the text must be 1mm for containers with 187ml or less and 2mm for containers larger than 187ml.
2. Bottler Name & Address
If the person or organization that bottles the wine is different from the brand or producer, this part of the label should name the bottler. The size of the text must be 1mm for containers with 187ml or less and 2mm for containers larger than 187ml.
3. Variety Name/Designation
This is the type of wine contained in the bottle. An example would be "Merlot," in which case an appellation of origin will also be needed. The size of the text must be 1mm for containers with 187ml or less and 2mm for containers larger than 187ml.
4. Origin Appellation
This is a declaration of the country where the grapes from which the wine is made are grown. The size of the text must be 1mm for containers with 187ml or less and 2mm for containers larger than 187ml.
5. Alcohol Volume
This is an indication of the percentage of alcohol to wine contents is. The law allows for a margin of error of 1.5%. The size of the text must be 1mm but no larger than 3mm for bottles containing 5 L or less.
6. Vintage Date
This indicates the date of the vintage. The size of the text must be 1mm for containers with 187ml or less and 2mm for containers larger than 187ml.
7. Net Volume
This is an indication of the total volume of the contents of the bottle. The guidelines for approximation and margins of error are quite long and should be adhered to exactly. The FAA requirements can be found here. The size of the text must be 1mm for containers with 187ml or less and 2mm for containers larger than 187ml.
8. Sulfate Declaration
Sulfates are a necessary preservative in most wine and are also a known allergen. Wine that contains them must be labeled with "Contains Sulfites or "Contains (a) Sulfating Agent(s)" The size of the text must be 1mm for containers with 187ml or less and 2mm for containers larger than 187ml.
Like most packaged food products and beverages, information on a wine label must contain all of the important ingredients and display a number of required details before it can be legally sold in the United States. There are nine main requireme