Coming to Your Wine Label Soon

[Innkeeper]

The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Well maybe it will.

Dan Berger in today’s edition of his Vintage Experiences has alerted us to new warning labels that may soon be forced on wineries. The first is a warning (to be determined by each winery) on allergens used in fining such as isinglass, egg whites, and milk products. The fact that all these pass through the wine without becoming part of it does not matter because governing legislation (Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004) talks about any product that COMES INTO CONTACT with an allergen being so labeled.

The other two labels being considered are the number of standard drinks in a bottle based on alcohol content, and another would require a list of all ingredients.

Can you imagine the burden not only on small North American producers but also small producers that have gained a little toehold on our market from the lesser know regions of France, Spain, and Italy as well as most of Southern Hemisphere. I can think of many of these we’ve recently enjoyed such as the tiny Domaine du Mage from S.W. France, who produce a delightful blend of Tannat and Merlot and sells for less than $10. It is only distributed in the U.S by a handful of small distributors. I’m sure they would drop the whole idea of a market here and try to sell what they produce on the Continent.

Many small producers here and abroad could easily fold with requirements for this kind of administrivia. Furthermore even the conglomerates will lose customers who are scared away by this ridiculous labeling added to the nonsense that is already printed on our wine bottles.