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 Spanish, the allergen line reads “contiene sulfitos” and the word next to the QR code is “ingredientes”. The e-label page must offer Spanish too. The complete EU list is in our labelling requirements guide.

Must the label be in Spanish?

Yes, mandatory information for Spanish consumers must be at least in Castilian Spanish. Co-official languages such as Catalan, Galician or Basque may be added, as may other languages.

Which Spanish rules apply to wine labels?

Royal Decree 1363/2011 sets national rules on the labelling and presentation of wine products, completing the EU texts. Each DO has its own regulatory council (Consejo Regulador) with rules on terms such as Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva, and many issue an official back label or seal.

The Rioja back label, for example, is issued by its regulatory council and must be on every bottle of DOCa Rioja. Spanish labels also commonly show the bottler's registration number (R.E.).

Are Spanish wine labels actually checked?

Yes. In March 2026 the Spanish consumer organisation OCU reported labelling problems on 13 of 41 Rioja wines it checked. Official controls are carried out by the regional authorities and, for designations, the regulatory councils.

What does an ingredients line look like in Spanish?

The ingredients list uses the official Spanish 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.

What does an ingredients line look like in Spanish?
EnglishSpanish
IngredientsIngredientes
grapesuvas
acidity regulator: tartaric acidcorrector de acidez: ácido tartárico
preservative: sulphitesconservador: sulfitos
Contains sulphitesContiene sulfitos

Example only. Each term must match what was actually added to your wine.

What do foreign producers most often get wrong in Spain?

Missing Spanish on the allergen line and next to the QR code, Spanish traditional terms used on non-Spanish wines, and e-label pages that are not in Spanish or do not load.

  • No “contiene sulfitos” on the printed label.
  • No “ingredientes” next to the QR code.
  • Terms such as “Crianza” or “Reserva” used outside their Spanish rules.
  • An e-label page in English only.

What changes for Spanish wineries exporting to the rest of the EU?

The Spanish particulars and the regulatory council back label stay. Add the allergen wording and the word “ingredients” in the language of each destination, and offer those languages on the e-label. For Germany: “enthält Sulfite” and “Zutaten”; for France: “contient des sulfites”, “ingrédients” and the pregnancy warning.

For bottled wine sold to several EU countries, one multilingual back label is often cheaper than separate print runs, as long as the text stays at 1.2 mm of x-height.

What are the nutrition table headings in Spanish?

The e-label page shows the nutrition declaration per 100 ml with the headings of annex XV of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, in Spanish for this market. The order is fixed. Values below are for a dry red at 13.5 % vol.

What are the nutrition table headings in Spanish?
EnglishSpanishPer 100 ml
EnergyValor energético312 kJ / 75 kcal
FatGrasas0 g
of which saturatesde las cuales saturadas0 g
CarbohydrateHidratos de carbono0.2 g
of which sugarsde los cuales azúcares0.2 g
ProteinProteínas0 g
SaltSal0 g

How do I prepare a back label for Spain, 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.

  1. Collect the analysis of the vintage (alcohol, residual sugar, acidity) and the list of additives and fining agents used.
  2. Write the ingredients list and the allergen line in Spanish: “contiene sulfitos”, and “ingredientes” next to the QR code.
  3. Calculate the energy value per 100 ml and print it as “E (100 ml) = … kJ / … kcal”.
  4. For DO wines, align the back label with the regulatory council's back label or seal.
  5. Publish the e-label in Spanish, without marketing or tracking, and test the QR code on several phones.
  6. Check the full proof at 1.2 mm of x-height before printing, and keep the file for the next vintage.

Can one back label cover Spain and Portugal?

Yes. “Ingredientes” is the same word in both languages, so the QR line works for both. The allergen line needs “contiene sulfitos” and “contém sulfitos”, and the e-label needs a Spanish and a Portuguese version.

Summary: a back label for Spain

Summary: a back label for Spain
PointWhat to put
LanguageCastilian Spanish (other languages may be added)
AllergensContiene sulfitos (and huevo / leche if detectable)
Word next to the QR codeIngredientes
Energy valueE (100 ml) = … kJ / … kcal
DO winesRegulatory council back label or seal, ageing terms
ControlsRegional authorities, regulatory councils

Questions from winemakers

Can I use Crianza or Reserva on a wine that is not Spanish?

No. These are traditional terms reserved by EU and Spanish rules for specific Spanish wines.

What is a contraetiqueta?

The Spanish word for back label. In Rioja and other DOs it can also mean the official back label issued by the regulatory council.

Can my Spanish label be in Catalan only?

No. Castilian Spanish is required for mandatory information; Catalan or another language can be added.

Sources

Selection criteria: we cite official texts first (EUR-Lex, national law portals), then named surveys with their publisher.

Updated on November 2, 2026 by the WineLex team