From this year EU countries as well as Canada require that wine labels provide information about contents in the wine that can cause allergic reactions (allergens). It is already compulsory to mention on the label that the wine contains sulphur (if it contains more than 10 mg/litre). The new substances that have to be mentioned are egg and milk products. Products containing these substances are sometimes used to clarify the wine.
In the EU the new law comes into force on June 30 this year. Starting from the harvest 2012 you must specify on the label “contains products of egg/milk” if the wine has been clarified by any of these products (albumin, casein etc). At first it seemed that the rule would apply regardless of whether there remained traces of the substances in the wine or not. But apparently the EU now agrees with Canada. Which means that only those wines that have been clarified with an egg och milk product and contain traces of these products have to specify it on the label. The official report will soon be published and we will get back with a confirmation.
Most producers clarify their wines, and often with these products. There is however a certain trend among quality conscious small growers to avoid clarifying. Normally there is nothing, or just tiny traces, left in the wine of the clarifying agent.
Read more in Vitisphere and in La Vigne.
