Georgia to launch three tier digital wine labeling system in 2027

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia approved a mandatory digital labeling system for wine starting February 1, 2027.

This new system aims to fight counterfeit products by using a protection method similar to that used for banknotes and passports. Consumers will be able to use a smartphone to scan a QR code on a bottle or container to verify the wine's authenticity. The protection system consists of three levels.

Each label will feature a visible designer symbol from the National Wine Agency, a hidden element readable only by special equipment, and a forensic marker. This marker allows experts to confirm a label's authenticity through chemical or molecular analysis during investigations. To prevent fraud, the labels will be made of self-destructing material that breaks if someone tries to peel it off and move it to a different bottle.

The rules apply to both bottled wine and bulk wine stored in tanks or stationary containers. A label only becomes valid once a producer activates it in an electronic database and links it to a certificate of conformity. This database will track the movement of every label for at least five years. The Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia plans to offer a preferential tariff for small wineries and traditional wine cellars known as marani.