Label Integrity Program

What is the Label Integrity Program?

Essentially, the Label Integrity Program (LIP) aims to ensure that if a winery makes a claim about the vintage, variety, or Geographical Indication of the wine they are selling, then this claim is true and can be proved by tracing back through the appropriate documentation.

What does this mean for grapegrowers?

Changes made to the LIP in 2011 mean that grapegrowers are now covered by the program. After all – it is the grapes that claims of variety, vintage and Geographical Indication (vineyard location) apply to, not the winemaking process.

Wine grape growers are now required to keep written records whenever they supply grapes to another person.

For each transaction, a grower must keep a written record that contains the following information:

• The grower’s name and address;
• The name and address of the winery receiving the grapes;
• The date the grower supplies the grapes;
• The quantity in tonnes of the grapes supplied;
• The vintage, variety and geographical indication of the grapes.

There are penalties of up to 2 years imprisonment or substantial fines for failure to keep a record, keeping a false or misleading record, or for making a label claim not supported by records or for failing to provide a copy of the record when supplying wine goods.

Download the LIP Guide for Winegrape Growers (published by Wine Australia)

For more information, visit http://www.wineaustralia.com/australia/Default.aspx?tabid=258.