---
title: "What information must appear on a wine label? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/alcohol-cannabis/wine-label-requirements
jurisdiction: "US Federal"
last_verified: 2026-08-28
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# What information must appear on a wine label? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources.

Under 27 CFR 4.32, wine labels must state on the brand label the brand name (§ 4.33), class/type/designation (§ 4.34), and exact percentage by volume of foreign wine in American/foreign blends. Any label affixed to the container must show name and address (§ 4.35), net contents (§ 4.37; on a front label if non-metric per § 4.72), and alcohol content (§ 4.36). FD&C Yellow No. 5 disclosure is required for products bottled on or after October 6, 1984, and a "Contains sulfites" statement is required at 10+ ppm.

## Details / How it works

Section 4.32 organizes mandatory wine label information by label location.

- **Brand label (§ 4.32(a))**: brand name (§ 4.33); class, type, or other designation (§ 4.34); and, on blends of American and foreign wines where foreign wine is referenced, the exact percentage by volume.
- **Any label affixed to the container (§ 4.32(b))**: name and address (§ 4.35); net contents (§ 4.37), shown on a front-of-bottle label if the fill is a non-metric standard of fill under § 4.72; and alcohol content (§ 4.36).
- **Color/additive disclosures (§ 4.32(c)–(d))**: an FD&C Yellow No. 5 statement on the brand or back label for products bottled on or after October 6, 1984, and a prominent "Contains Cochineal Extract" and/or "Contains Carmine" statement on a front, back, strip, or neck label for products removed on or after April 16, 2013.
- **Sulfites (§ 4.32(e))**: a "Contains sulfites" or equivalent statement on a front, back, strip, or neck label where sulfur dioxide or a sulfiting agent is detected at 10 or more parts per million, measured as total sulfur dioxide. Applies to certificates of label approval issued on or after January 9, 1987; wine bottled on or after July 9, 1987; and wine removed on or after January 9, 1988.

## Numbers & thresholds

| Item | Value | Authority |
|------|-------|-----------|
| Sulfite disclosure threshold | 10 or more parts per million (measured as total sulfur dioxide) | 27 CFR 4.32(e) |
| FD&C Yellow No. 5 statement applies to wine bottled on or after | October 6, 1984 | 27 CFR 4.32(c) |
| Cochineal extract / carmine statement applies to wine removed on or after | April 16, 2013 | 27 CFR 4.32(d) |
| Sulfite rule — certificates of label approval issued on or after | January 9, 1987 | 27 CFR 4.32(e)(1) |
| Sulfite rule — wine bottled on or after | July 9, 1987 | 27 CFR 4.32(e)(2) |
| Sulfite rule — wine removed on or after | January 9, 1988 | 27 CFR 4.32(e)(3) |

## Exceptions & edge cases

Net contents must appear on a label affixed to the front of the bottle when the fill is a non-metric standard of fill as prescribed in § 4.72; otherwise it may appear on any label affixed to the container. The sulfite-declaration provisions in paragraph (e) were approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 1513-0469. Section 4.32 is also subject to the Government Warning requirements of 27 CFR 16.21, which must appear separate and apart from all other information on the brand label or on a separate front, back, or side label.

## Sources

- [1] U.S. Government Publishing Office / Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — 27 CFR 4.32 — Mandatory label information for wine · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-4.32 · as of 2026-08-28
- [2] U.S. Government Publishing Office / Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — 27 CFR 16.21 — Health warning statement requirements for alcoholic beverages · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-16.21 · as of 2026-08-28