Steps to Selecting the Right Wine Label Materials

Purchasing a new bottle of wine is a challenge as there are numerous factors that consumers take into account prior to making their purchase decision. For example:

• Bottle shape
• Wine colour
• Label design
• Food combinations
• Alcohol content
• Origins of ingredients
• Wine age

Despite all of the above factors, research has revealed that more than 80% of consumers picked a bottle of wine based on how the label looked. With this in mind, we thought it would be valuable to highlight the varying aspects of wine label materials and constructions brands are presented with. After all, the information presented on a wine label not only helps paint a picture of the character of the wine, it plays an integral part in delivering key information to consumers & assisting their purchasing decision.

So, where’s the best place to start when selecting the right label construction for your wine?

1. Know what wine label materials are available

When it comes to wine label materials, there is a wide-variety of facestock, adhesives and liners which can be tailored to suit your brand, product, and bottling line process. For example, wine label face materials are available in a variation of formats:

• Gloss
• Semi-gloss
• Textured
• Wove
• Matt
• Laid
• Metalised

Within the wine & beer industry, everyone wants their label to stand out in the crowd. Couple that with the growing pressure and demand from modern consumers for materials that are environmentally friendly and made from post-consumer waste. Luckily, the team at Smith & McLaurin has a wide-variety of wine label materials available which are made from 100% PCW and are also FSC® certified which provides brands with environmentally friendly labelstock materials. FSC® License Code C002557. Choosing these types of materials open additional sales opportunities up for brands, as modern day consumers are in favour of environmentally friendly products as their environmental impacts are reduced.  

2. Don’t forget about the durability & storage of your wine face materials

Choosing the right label material for your wine isn’t all about the appearance, it’s also important to consider the below:

• Application & storage environment– it is important the label materials you select are suitable for the application & storage environment. For instance, adhesives and label materials must be capable of withstanding fridge/freezer environments and fluctuating temperatures. 
• Durability of materials – from your face papers through to your adhesives, it is hugely important to make sure your label materials are capable of withstanding condensation moisture and temperature changes. For example, your white wine, rosé, or champagne may be subject to being submersed in ice buckets or a wine cooler prior to being consumed. Your label material must be capable of withstanding these conditions.
• Certified for direct/indirect food contact

3. Don’t forget your stand-out options

There are additional options available to brands to help their labels stand out on shelf, including:

1. Foiling – this helps to deliver a premium, luxurious effect
2. Embossing – enhances a labels visual and tactile qualities

4. Printability of face materials & print options

Once you have established your chosen label materials, the next requirement is to look at the best print methods and converters for your materials. When it comes to printing there are two main variations available – digital label printing or flexographic.

Digital label printing is popular as it facilitates short runs and frequent changes however if you require to print larger volumes then your materials may be better suited to flexographic label printing.  

5. Select adhesives which can withstand the application conditions

The hard work isn’t complete when you have chosen your face material as the adhesive which is included as part of your label construction is crucial in your label performing once applied to your bottle, or final application. Outlined below are categories of adhesives which may be suitable:

• Wet Pack - these adhesives provide great tack and are capable of withstanding chilled environments
• Freezer grade – high adhesion & capable of withstanding freezer temperatures in applications down to - 40°
• Permanent - acrylic & Hotmelt - Excellent extreme high tack permanent adhesives for a variety of rough and difficult substrates
• Repositionable - strong tack offering the ability to reposition after the initial application whilst providing long-term adhesion and durability thereafter
• PurityWash - cold Water (Paper & Film) & Hot Caustic Wash-Off - enables labels to wash off PP, PE, HDPE and PET bottles and containers during industrial cleaning processes to maximise recyclability

Speak to our team

At Smith & McLaurin we believe premium products deserve premium presentation and the materials within our AdaptVivant range provide exactly that and more. Our consultation approach is beneficial as it involves all stakeholders – including the brand owner, PSL laminator and label converter. This allows us to accelerate our manufacturing process, avoiding delays and saving you time. If you would like to discover more about our AdaptVivant range, then please contact us.