Which EU rules apply first?
The same as everywhere in the EU: the compulsory particulars of article 119 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the allergens, and since 8 December 2023 the ingredients list and nutrition declaration of Regulation (EU) 2021/2117. The energy value and allergens are printed; the rest may sit behind a QR code.
What changes is the language. In German, the allergen line reads “enthält Sulfite” and the word next to the QR code is “Zutaten”. The e-label page must offer German too. The complete EU list is in our labelling requirements guide.
Which German laws apply to wine labels?
The Weingesetz and the Weinverordnung complete the EU rules: quality levels, Prädikat terms, the AP number, and terms such as “Gutsabfüllung” or “Erzeugerabfüllung”. Imported wines mostly follow the EU rules, plus the German language.
German wine law moved in recent years to an origin-based pyramid, where smaller areas (Ortswein, Lagenwein) carry stricter rules. For foreign producers this only matters if you use German terms, which you should not.
What is the AP number?
The amtliche Prüfungsnummer (AP-Nr.) is the official control number that German Qualitätswein and Prädikatswein receive after an analytical and sensory test. It must appear on the label of those wines. It does not apply to wines imported from other countries.
Is there anything to do for German packaging law?
Yes, but not on the label. Whoever first places packaged goods on the German market for consumers must register in the LUCID packaging register and join a collection system under the Verpackungsgesetz. For wine sold directly to German consumers, that is often the foreign winery itself.
What does an ingredients line look like in German?
The ingredients list uses the official German terms for the additive categories, set in the language versions of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1606 and Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. The example below is for a dry wine; your own list depends on what was used in your cellar.
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Zutaten |
| grapes | Trauben |
| acidity regulator: tartaric acid | Säureregulator: Weinsäure |
| preservative: sulphites | Konservierungsstoff: Sulfite |
| Contains sulphites | Enthält Sulfite |
Example only. Each term must match what was actually added to your wine.
What do foreign producers most often get wrong in Germany?
Allergen and ingredients wording only in the producer's language, German quality terms used on foreign wines, missing packaging registration for direct sales to consumers, and an e-label without a German version.
- No “enthält Sulfite” on the printed label.
- No “Zutaten” next to the QR code.
- German terms such as “Spätlese” or “Qualitätswein” used on non-German wines.
- No LUCID registration when shipping directly to German consumers.
- A QR code leading to a shop page with tracking.
Can one back label cover Germany, Austria and Switzerland?
For Germany and Austria, yes: both use German and the EU rules. German-speaking Switzerland reads the same text, and an EU-compliant label is lawful there. One German back label, often combined with Italian or French, serves all three markets.
German importers and wine merchants are used to precise back labels and often check them before listing a new producer. A clear, complete label in German helps that first conversation.
What are the nutrition table headings in German?
The e-label page shows the nutrition declaration per 100 ml with the headings of annex XV of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, in German for this market. The order is fixed. Values below are for a dry red at 13.5 % vol.
| English | German | Per 100 ml |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Brennwert | 312 kJ / 75 kcal |
| Fat | Fett | 0 g |
| of which saturates | davon gesättigte Fettsäuren | 0 g |
| Carbohydrate | Kohlenhydrate | 0.2 g |
| of which sugars | davon Zucker | 0.2 g |
| Protein | Eiweiß | 0 g |
| Salt | Salz | 0 g |
How do I prepare a back label for Germany, step by step?
Start from your analysis and cellar records, write the text in the language of the market, check it against the EU and national rules, publish the e-label, then approve a proof before printing. The order matters: changing text after the layout is where most errors creep in.
- Collect the analysis of the vintage (alcohol, residual sugar, acidity) and the list of additives and fining agents used.
- Write the ingredients list and the allergen line in German: “enthält Sulfite”, and “Zutaten” next to the QR code.
- Calculate the energy value per 100 ml and print it as “E (100 ml) = … kJ / … kcal”.
- If you sell directly to German consumers, register the packaging in LUCID before the first shipment.
- Publish the e-label in German, without marketing or tracking, and test the QR code on several phones.
- Check the full proof at 1.2 mm of x-height before printing, and keep the file for the next vintage.
Do German wine terms on the label have their own rules?
Yes. Terms such as Gutsabfüllung, Erzeugerabfüllung, Prädikat levels and single-vineyard names follow the Weingesetz and the Weinverordnung. They are reserved for wines that meet those conditions, mostly German ones.
Who controls wine labels in Germany?
The wine control services of the federal states (Weinkontrolle), together with the food control authorities. Labels are checked at the winery, at importers and in shops. German consumer centres and competitors can also challenge misleading labels.
Summary: a back label for Germany
| Point | What to put |
|---|---|
| Language | German |
| Allergens | Enthält Sulfite (and Ei / Milch if detectable) |
| Word next to the QR code | Zutaten |
| Energy value | E (100 ml) = … kJ / … kcal, or “Brennwert” |
| German quality wines | AP number |
| Packaging | LUCID registration (not on the label) |
| Controls | Weinkontrolle of the federal states |
Questions from winemakers
Is “contains sulphites” in English accepted in Germany?
No. Mandatory information must be in German for German consumers: “enthält Sulfite”.
Does my imported wine need an AP number?
No. The AP number is for German quality wines only.
What is a Rückenetikett?
The German word for back label. Since the EU ingredients and nutrition rules, searches for it have risen sharply among German winemakers.
Must the e-label be in German for Germany?
Yes. The e-label must be in a language easily understood where the wine is sold, which in Germany means German.
Sources
Selection criteria: we cite official texts first (EUR-Lex, national law portals), then named surveys with their publisher.
- Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 (EUR-Lex)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 (EUR-Lex)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (EUR-Lex)
- Weingesetz (WeinG), Germany
- Weinverordnung (WeinV), Germany
Updated on November 2, 2026 by the WineLex team