Getting Started
Everything you need to set up EU-compliant digital wine labels on your WordPress site.
Installation
WineLabel EU is installed like any standard WordPress plugin.
- Download the
winelabel-eu.zipfile from your purchase confirmation or the free download page. - In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
- Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now.
- After installation completes, click Activate Plugin.
No additional configuration is required to start using the free version. The plugin works out of the box.
Quick Start
Once the plugin is active, follow these steps to create your first digital wine label.
1. Create a wine product
By default, the plugin uses its own WineLabel EU → Wines section to manage wines. If WooCommerce is installed and you prefer to attach labels directly to WooCommerce products, enable the WooCommerce Integration toggle in WineLabel EU → Settings.
On the product edit screen, check the Enable Digital Label checkbox and fill in the wine name (this appears at the top of the label).
2. Add a vintage
Below the wine product, you will see a Vintages panel. Click Add Vintage to create a vintage entry (e.g., 2024). Each vintage is its own post linked to the parent wine.
Fill in the vintage-specific data: ingredients, nutritional values, and waste sorting instructions. The fields follow the exact structure required by EU regulation.
3. Publish and share
Publish the vintage. The plugin automatically generates a standalone HTML label page at a clean URL. Copy the URL or use the QR code feature (Pro) to print it on your bottle labels.
Understanding Labels
Each digital label contains the information required by Reg. (EU) 2021/2117 amending Art. 119 of Reg. (EU) 1308/2013. Here is what goes into a label:
Ingredients
The raw materials and additives used in winemaking. Fields include the base ingredient (grapes), any additives or processing aids, and allergen declarations. Allergens such as sulfites are highlighted automatically on the label output.
Nutritional values
Energy (kJ and kcal), fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt. Values are entered per 100 ml. The plugin also displays the alcohol percentage.
Waste sorting / recycling
Packaging material details for proper disposal. The Raccolta repeater field lets you list each packaging component (e.g., glass bottle, cork, capsule) with its material code and disposal instructions.
The label output is bare HTML with no cookies, scripts, or WordPress theme dependency. This means it loads instantly and is fully compliant with privacy regulations.
URL Structure
WineLabel EU generates clean, predictable URLs for every label.
| URL pattern | What it does |
|---|---|
/{slug}-winelabel-{YY}/ |
The label for a specific vintage. {slug} is the wine product slug and {YY} is the two-digit vintage year. |
/{slug}-winelabel/ |
Redirects (301) to the most recent published vintage for that wine. |
/winelabel/ |
Index page listing all published wine labels. |
With Pro, you can change the base URL segment from winelabel to a custom string via WineLabel EU → Settings → Base URL. Useful for matching your brand or language (e.g., /etichetta/).
Free vs Pro
The free version is fully functional for small producers. Here is what is included in each plan:
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Published vintages | 5 max | Unlimited |
| Ingredients, nutrition, recycling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare HTML output | ✓ | ✓ |
| Label index page | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bilingual labels | EN only | EN + configurable |
| QR code PDF | — | ✓ |
| Duplicate vintage | — | ✓ |
| Custom base URL | — | ✓ |
| White-label | — | ✓ |
Pro Features
Bilingual labels
Pro supports a second language alongside English. All text fields (ingredients, nutritional info, recycling instructions) have both an English and a second-language version. The label renders both languages side by side, letting you comply in multiple markets from a single label.
The second language is configured in WineLabel EU → Settings via a language code (e.g., it for Italian, de for German).
QR code PDF
Generate a print-ready PDF containing a vector SVG QR code pointing to the label URL. The QR code is resolution-independent and can be placed directly into your bottle label design files. Download it from the vintage edit screen in the admin.
Duplicate vintage
Clone an existing vintage with all its data to quickly create a new year. All ingredient, nutritional, and recycling fields are copied to the new vintage post. Available as a row action in the vintages list.
Custom base URL
Replace the default /winelabel/ URL segment with a string of your choice. This changes all label URLs and the index page URL. Useful for non-English sites (e.g., /etichetta/, /etikett/).
White-label
Remove the "Powered by WineLabel EU" footer credit from the label output. The label appears completely unbranded, showing only your wine data.
Settings
All plugin settings are found under WineLabel EU in the WordPress admin menu. The settings page has three tabs:
License
Enter your Pro license key here to activate Pro features. The license status is cached for 7 days. If you see a validation error, check that your key is correct and that your site can reach the license server.
Settings
- Second language code — The ISO language code for your second label language (Pro only). English is always the primary language.
- Base URL override — Change the
/winelabel/segment in all label URLs (Pro only). After changing this, visit Settings → Permalinks in WordPress and click Save to flush rewrite rules.
Usage
Shows your current vintage count against the free-tier limit (5 published vintages). Pro users see "Unlimited" here.
FAQ
Is WooCommerce required?
No. The plugin includes its own Wines manager by default. If WooCommerce is installed, you can optionally enable integration in Settings to attach label fields directly to WooCommerce products. Both modes offer the same label functionality.
What PHP version do I need?
PHP 7.4 or higher. PHP 8.0+ is recommended for best performance.
How do I update the plugin?
Free version: download the latest ZIP and re-upload via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, then click "Replace current with uploaded". Pro version: with a valid license key, updates appear automatically in your WordPress dashboard alongside other plugin updates.
Can I use the plugin on multiple sites?
The free version can be installed on unlimited sites. Pro licenses are per-site. You need one license key per WordPress installation.
What happens if my Pro license expires?
Your existing labels continue to work. Pro features (bilingual output, QR PDF, duplicate, custom URL, white-label) are disabled until you renew. You keep the free-tier functionality with a 5-vintage limit.
Do the labels use cookies or tracking scripts?
No. Label pages are bare HTML with zero JavaScript, zero cookies, and zero external requests. They are fully GDPR-compliant by design.
Can I customize the label design?
The label output uses semantic HTML with clearly named CSS classes. You can override styles by adding custom CSS in your theme or via a CSS plugin. The HTML structure is intentionally simple to make this straightforward.