Wine Label Printing: A UK Guide To Sizes, Materials & Compliance

Posted on by support

Wine label printing rewards a little preparation. Get the size, the stock and the adhesive right and your label reads clearly and survives in the fridge. Get them wrong and you’ll need a reprint.

We print wine bottle labels on sheets and on rolls, in bespoke quantities. Here are the specs to check before you order.

Key wine label printing takeaways:

  • Measure the size of the wine bottle first. 90 × 120mm fronts and 80 × 100mm backs fit most 750ml bottles.
  • Match the label material and type of adhesive to how it’ll be stored and served, not just to the design
  • Send print ready files with 3mm bleed, 300dpi images and outlined fonts
  • Confirm ABV, net quantity, allergens and lot marking against current GOV.UK guidance.

Why wine bottle labelling is different from standard labels

A wine bottle is a curved, damp and chilled surface. Bottle labels are read at arm’s length on crowded shelves, so they have to hold fine detail and strong colour. In comparison, a carton never sees condensation and a mailing label never sits in an ice bucket.

That changes three things. Artwork needs room for curvature. Materials need moisture resistance built in. Adhesives need to grip cold glass and stay clear. And because most wine ranges start small and grow, bottle labels need to work as well at a few hundred labels as at thousands.

Standard Wine Bottle & Label Sizes

Most wine bottle labels follow a handful of proven sizes. Treat them as a starting point and measure the flat area of your bottle first.

Size (mm) Typical use
99 × 139 Tall front label for Bordeaux-style bottles; a premium, dominant look.
150 × 100 Landscape front label for wider bottles and gift packs.
99 × 68 Small front, dessert wines, half bottles, secondary branding.
80 × 100 Standard back label; a compact front on slim bottles.
90 × 120 Classic 750ml front label; the safest all-round starting size.
90 × 120 approx. Champagne and sparkling front, usually with a neck label.
100 × 130 approx. Spirits front; confirm against the bottle shoulder and panel.

A good approach is to print a full-size paper mock-up and wrap it around the bottle before you approve artwork. Leave space on the back for the legal block, a barcode and batch coding.

Choosing the right wine bottle label material

White paper is the workhorse. Right for a normal shelf life, indoor storage and strong print contrast at sensible cost. Add a laminate so it copes with condensation.

Textured paper suits premium products and small batches where the label’s feel matters. It takes hot foil and embossing beautifully. It is uncoated, so avoid very fine type.

Metallic paper gives a bright finish without the cost of a foil die. Good for white spirits and commemorative bottlings. Inks sit translucent on metallised stock, so build artwork for it rather than dropping it on.

Kraft suits craft breweries and brands that want to project an ethical image. It is absorbent, so colours print duller by design.

White polyester is the stock for ice buckets, chillers and freezer storage. Waterproof, tear-resistant and colours remain stable when wet.

Clear polyester delivers the no-label look on clear glass. The adhesive shows through, so the bottle finish has to be clean.

Preparing artwork for bottle labels

  • Bleed: 3mm all round. Add more if the label wraps hard around a curve.

  • Colour: CMYK build with Pantone references for brand colours. Pantone to CMYK shifts, so approve a proof for critical colour shades.

  • Resolution: 300dpi images at final print size. Vector for logos, type and legal text.

  • Fonts: outlined, or supplied with the file. Missing fonts delay proofs.

  • Format: AI, EPS or press-ready PDF, with layers intact.

  • Small type: 100% black rather than rich black, for fine text and barcodes.

  • Curvature and barcode: keep the legal block inside the flat central band, and allow the barcode quiet zone.

Get in Touch

If you are sourcing wine labels in the UK, we can help. We print custom wine labels for wineries, distilleries, breweries, drinks brands and events, with over 40 years of experience behind every job.

Send us your bottle, your quantity and your artwork. We will come back with a price, a lead time and a recommendation on stock and adhesive. Speak to our team for details or submit a quote request.