Regulation and Innovation: Portugal Cuts Label Review Times with AI, Germany Pivots to Alcohol-Free Wines

Portugal: Artificial Intelligence for Label Approval

<cite index="1-6">The SMARTLabel project is being developed by EVAG, the study center of the Vinho Verde region and Quinta Campos do Lima, in partnership with the Vinho Verde Regional Winegrowing Commission (CVRVV) and the research and technology institute INESC TEC.</cite> <cite index="1-7">The work began in January 2026 and is scheduled to run through the end of 2027.</cite>

<cite index="1-8,1-9">The stated goal is to help producers identify labeling errors before a label reaches the certifying authority for approval. When completed, the platform is expected to read a wine label, identify the mandatory information that must appear on it, and flag anything that is missing or presented incorrectly.</cite> <cite index="1-2">The project is being positioned as a screening and guidance tool that can catch common mistakes earlier, before a producer enters the full approval process.</cite>

<cite index="3-6">More than 7,000 labels are approved annually in the region.</cite> The time savings benefit those who export: <cite index="6-5">the AI and certification platform could reduce average response time by up to 80%, translating to faster service for exporters.</cite>

<cite index="1-12">INESC TEC is developing the algorithms that will analyze label images, while CVRVV is contributing practical knowledge about how labels are reviewed and providing real labels from the Vinho Verde region to train and refine the system.</cite>

Germany: Alcohol-Free Wine as Business Strategy

<cite index="10-3,10-4,10-5">That shift has pushed many wineries and bottlers to add non-alcoholic wines and sparkling wines to their portfolios. The range has grown steadily in recent years, even though these products still represent a small part of the market. In Germany, non-alcoholic wine accounts for about 2% of total wine market sales.</cite>

<cite index="10-2">However, non-alcoholic bottles hold just 2% of the wine market, leaving producers without a clear answer to a broader slump in traditional wine consumption.</cite> <cite index="10-8,10-10">Alcohol plays an important role in carrying flavor and creating mouthfeel, which is why many wine drinkers do not see non-alcoholic versions as a direct substitute for conventional wine. But producers are not necessarily trying to win over all regular wine buyers. The bigger target is consumers who no longer want alcohol or do not want it on certain occasions.</cite>

<cite index="12-1">A third of Weingut Leitz's wine production is now sans alcohol, and the winery is considered a pioneer of German non-alcoholic wine.</cite> The demand is real: <cite index="17-3,17-4">the non-alcoholic wine market in Germany is expected to reach a projected revenue of US$ 754.8 million by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.6% from 2026 to 2033.</cite>

Implications for Importers and Exporters

For Hungarian producers, the Portuguese model deserves attention: by automating label checks, manufacturers can bring products to market faster. The same approach could potentially apply to high-demand wine regions seeking faster regulatory review across the EU.

Germany's example demonstrates that even traditionally focused winemakers can shift away from "conventional" products if market signals demand it. This suggests EU winemakers—especially those selling into German markets—should prepare for growth in the alcohol-free category or "occasion-specific" products that address shifting consumer habits.

Both cases underscore that the wine industry can no longer avoid technology and strategic transformation in certification and product mix decisions.