E-label for sparkling wine: cut-off date, ingredients, nutrition

When the obligation applies

The production date is decisive. According to wine control authorities, a sparkling wine only counts as produced once the second fermentation is complete and the pressure has built up. A sparkling wine made from a 2022 base wine whose bottle fermentation took place in 2024 therefore needs ingredients and nutrition values, even though the base wine is older.

Ingredients list

Besides the grapes and the additives used, the dosages belong in the list for sparkling wine: the tirage liqueur for the second fermentation and the expedition liqueur that sets the taste after disgorging.

Example

Ingredients: grapes, tirage liqueur, expedition liqueur, preservative and antioxidant: sulphites.

The carbon dioxide from bottle fermentation is not a separate ingredient. More on the format in the guide to the ingredients list.

Nutrition values

The basis is the analysis of the finished sparkling wine after the expedition liqueur, because it determines the residual sugar. Alcohol, sugar, acid and glycerol are converted as for still wine; the nutrition calculator helps. A “brut” and a “dry” from the same base wine need separate values.

Sugar content term and other obligations

Sparkling wine also carries a sugar content term based on its sugar content, such as “brut nature”, “extra brut”, “brut”, “extra dry”, “dry”, “demi-sec” or “doux”. It stays on the label and is independent of the nutrition values in the e-label.

How long the e-label should remain available

The e-label must be available as long as the wine is on the market. LGL Bavaria recommends at least three years for semi-sparkling and sparkling wine. At Weinlabels, e-labels stay online for five years after cancellation.

Weinlabels is free. Nutrition, ingredients and QR code in one tool, with no subscription and no fee per code.

Sources

This page gives an overview and is not legal advice. The regulations and the information from your wine control authority are binding.