Digital Option Key to Success of Future Wine Labeling Regulations

Wine is not like other alcohol beverages, it’s not a recipe product

Sacramento, CA — Wine Institute released the following statement from President & CEO Robert P. Koch in response to new proposed rules from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on nutrition and allergen labeling. The two new Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow.

“Our wineries are committed to ensuring consumers have the information they need to make informed choices about the wines they purchase. We look forward to participating constructively to ensure future regulations balance the potential benefits for consumers with the significant costs and burdens placed on the more than 17,000 small and medium sized wineries across the country.”

“Simply put, wine is not a recipe product. Unlike other beverages, every vintage is different, and each wine varies by year, winegrape varietal, location, climate and growing conditions. Because the winemaking process is so dynamic and highly variable, labelingregulations that do not incorporate needed flexibility have the potential to be highly disruptive for winery operations.”

“TTB is right to question the need for mandatory on-label information and to consider alternatives like e-labels which can significantly increase the accuracy and amount of information shared with consumers. Europe has taken this approach, and we have seen that it can work.”

“Given the unique nature of winemaking, the most accurate and least burdensome approach to providing nutrition information to consumers would be to allow the option of off-label disclosure via QR code or other electronic means.”