QR code on the wine label: reference, size and printing

The QR code links the label to the e-label. To be legally correct and to work on every bottle, the reference next to it, the size and the print file all matter.

Last updated: 28 October 2026

The reference next to the code

Consumers must be able to tell what the QR code is for. According to the European Commission notice, a symbol such as “i” alone is not sufficient. Write directly next to or above the code what it contains, for example “Ingredients and nutrition” or the equivalent in the language of the country of sale.

Size and design

  • Size: There is no legal minimum size. Wine control authorities recommend about 1 × 1 cm to 1.5 × 1.5 cm; larger is safer, especially with long addresses.
  • Quiet zone: Leave a light margin around the code, at least as wide as four of the small squares.
  • Contrast: Dark code on a light background. Light codes on dark backgrounds, gold foil or strong gloss make scanning harder.
  • Placement: Do not place it over an edge, an embossing or a strongly curved part of the bottle.

The print file

Give your printer the downloaded file, not a screenshot. The code must not be distorted or redrawn. Ask for a proof or sample before printing the full run and scan it with several smartphones, including an older one.

A code that stays

With Weinlabels, every QR code permanently points to the same e-label. You can correct the content later without reprinting the label. QR codes can be reserved before the labels are printed, and for the next vintage you simply duplicate the wine.

Labels already printed?

A sticker helps. Have the QR code printed on rolls together with the reference “Ingredients and nutrition”, the energy value and “Contains: sulphites”, for example in 4 × 4 cm, and attach it next to the label.

How long the code has to work

The e-label must be available for as long as the wine is sold, including in retail and restaurants. With Weinlabels, e-labels stay online for five years after you cancel.

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

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Sources

This page is an overview and not legal advice. The regulations and the competent wine control authorities are authoritative.