The regulations administered by TTB are contained in Chapter I, of Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations. (27 CFR chapter 1.) Each title of the CFR is divided into "parts," which cover a particular subject, and each part is further divided into "sections." You may search, view, and print each 27 CFR chapter I part, or a single section of a part, in the official version of 27 CFR chapter 1 which is updated yearly, or in the online version of the e-CFR which is updated daily.

Code of Federal Regulations
TITLE 27--Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms
CHAPTER I--ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
SUBCHAPTER A--LIQUORS

• 27 CFR Part 1, Basic Permit Requirements Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, Non-Industrial Use of Distilled Spirits and Wine, Bulk Sales and Bottling of Distilled Spirits.
• 27 CFR Part 4, Labeling and Advertising of Wine
• 27 CFR Part 9, American Viticultural Area
• 27 CFR Part 12, Foreign Nongeneric Names of Geographic Significance used in the Designation of Wines
• 27 CFR Part 13, Labeling Proceedings
• 27 CFR Part 16, Alcoholic Beverage Health Warning Statement
• 27 CFR Part 24, Wine
• 27 CFR Part 27, Importation of Distilled Spirits, Wine and Beer
• 27 CFR Part 28, Exportation of Alcohol
• Public Law 107-188, the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002

Information by Topic at TTB

How to Read Wine Labels
As consumers become more adventuresome in their wine selections, they look to the label for more information. What makes one wine different from another? What is the dominant grape in the wine? Where were they grown? Wine labels are delicate balance between marketing and legality. The winery wants the label to look enticing and appropriately convey what’s in the bottle, and the government wants to make sure that the facts are stated accurately.

General Requirements
All mandatory information is required to be shown in readily legible printing and on a contrasting background. All mandatory statements on a 750ml bottle, except the alcohol content statement, must appear in printing no smaller than 2mm. The alcohol content statement is required to be from 1-3mm in height regardless of container size. Some imported wines are designated with a distinctive name which is permissible only on specific wines from a particular place or region within the country of origin, for example, Asti Spumanti from Italy and Bordeaux from France.

Brand - The brand name is a name used by the bottler to identify the product, generally the winery name. Any brand name is acceptable if it does not mislead the consumer. Appellation - An appellation is the state, county or region where the grapes were grown. If a wine is labeled with the vintage year, the appellation is required. If the area is California, 100% of the grapes must be from there; if a specific American Viticultural Area (AVA) is listed, 85% of the grapes must come from within the named region; if a county, 75% of the wine is produced from grapes grown in that county. Country of Origin - A country of origin statement is required on all imported wines. For example, "Product of (insert name of country)". A country, state or county appellation or their foreign equivalent on the label means that at least 75 percent of the wine is produced from grapes grown in the place named. Viticultural Area - An American viticultural area is a defined grape-growing region with soil, climate, history and geographic features which set it apart from the surrounding areas. A viticultural area appellation on the label indicates that 85 percent or more of the wine was produced from grapes grown in the named area. Estate Bottled - When you see Estate Bottled on a label, it means that 100% of the wine came from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery, which must be located in a viticultural area. The winery must crush and ferment the grapes, finish, age, process and bottle the wine on their premises.

Varietal Designations - Varietal designations are the names of the dominant grapes used in the wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Merlot are examples of grape varieties. A varietal designation on the label requires an appellation of origin and means that at least 75 percent of the grapes used to make the wine are of that variety, and that the entire 75 percent comes from the stated appellation of origin. (Except "Vitis labrusca"grapes, such as Concord, which require 51 percent).

Vintage - Vintage is not required on a label. However, if it is included, in the U.S. it means that 95% or more must be harvested in that year. If a vintage is included, then the appellation of origin, smaller than a country, must also be shown.

Alcohol Content - A statement of alcohol content in percent by volume appears on most labels. As an alternative some bottlers prefer to label wine with an alcohol content between 7 and 14 percent as "Table Wine" or "Light Wine."

Health Warning Statement - Required on all alcoholic beverages containing .5% or more alcohol by volume. "GOVERNMENT WARNING" must appear in capital letters and bold type. The remainder of the statement may not appear in bold type. The statement must be separate and apart from all other information. The net contents of wine is stated in the metric system of measure and is the amount of product in the container.

Information Usually on the Back Label

Descriptive Information - Most wineries like to include some information about how the wine was made or tastes on the back label.

Location where bottled - Not necessarily the same place as where the grapes were grown (with the exception of wines marked Estate Bottled, as mentioned above), this is the place you see mentioned after “Produced and Bottled by”. This is where the winery is located, or where the winery that bottled the wine is located. Some wineries use custom crush facilities and this will be the location printed on the label.

Net Contents - The net contents of the wine is stated in the metric system of measure and is the amount of wine in the bottle; some common sizes for wines are 750ml, 1.5ml (a magnum), and 375ml (half bottle). You’ll often find this molded into the glass rather than printed on the label.

Declaration of Sulfites - Required on any wine intended for interstate commerce that contains 10 or more parts per million (ppm) sulfur dioxide. Not required for wines only sold in intrastate commerce.

How to Read a Grape Wine Label (TTB ) - PDF (156KB)