Security holograms for the identification of original wine bottles

In recent years the percentage of counterfeit wines on the market has increased significantly. A counterfeit wine contains water, alcohol, flavors, sugar, sweeteners, dyes and chemicals, which can seriously harm one’s health. The end consumer is rarely involved in the authentication of the bottle he or she just bought.

The National Office for Vine and Vitivinicultural Products (O.N.V.P.V.) is the Romanian authority which oversees vineyard management and winemaking, protection of designations of origination and geographical indication. In order to preserve identity they have introduced the mandatory use of security holograms that are to be applied on select bottles by the wine producers who meet the conditions set in the technical documents and legislation. Based on an official marketing certificate, issued by the O.N.V.P.V., manufacturers must mark the bottles of wine with the application of a personalized security hologram, which certifies the origin and authenticity of wines.

It contains multiple security features, which make it impossible to reproduce. It can be applied on various surfaces (i.e. cardboard, glass, plastic, etc.), and has a high thermal, mechanical and chemical resistance. Thanks to the base material it’s produced from, the label can not be detached without damaging it (irreversible and easily noticeable), thus rendering it impossible to reuse by applying it on other products.

ELTRONIS has been supplying the O.N.V.P.V. with security holograms for the authentication of legally produced wines, which are applied onto wine bottles meant for distribution both inside and outside the country.

The 2017 version of the hologram has been redesigned to contain additional security features. This new label incorporates a unique QR (2D) barcode, which can be easily scanned with a smartphone, and is complementary to the previously included alphanumeric serial number. The code is meant to supply the consumers with relevant information regarding the purchased wine. Scanning the barcode the consumer will be directed to pages containing commercial information determined by the wine producers. The supplied information contains: details of the wine cellar and the producer involved in the making of the wine, details of the soil, the winery, the brand or location identification through Google Maps, etc. The authorities in charge are alerted whenever and invalid or duplicate code is scanned.

The introduction of these new security holograms aims to encourage the consumption of quality wines, a better knowledge of the wine producers, an effective identification on the market of said producers and to provide a level of protection for both the legal producers and the consumers, who are provided with useful information regarding the authenticity of the purchased products. This is an ideal application for the manufacturer, distributor and the end-customer, as it allows the entire supply chain an easy method of product authentication. This marking guarantees the product’s authenticity, that it’s controlled by an authority and has a known origin, which constitutes a considerable advantage for both consumers and wine producers. The new security hologram project for wine certification and authentication is in the process of implementation.

Wine fraud is a serious threat which has severe repercussions on multiple levels, not only causing losses of millions in revenue, but most importantly the potential hazard to public health. The first person who can put a stop to this is you! Check what you are buying, especially if it is for the first time. Furthermore, if you have the opportunity and the means to check a product, do it! Last, but not least, look out for the authentication elements on your local wine products.

In case you are interested in a similar security labeling solution, please contact us. Our complete product list is available on our website.