Fine wine exchange Liv-ex has launched a universal wine code with the aim of simplifying how the industry tracks wine.

The free L-WIN code is a unique seven-digit numerical code designed to be used to quickly and accurately identify a wine on a database.

Producers can retain their preferred wine names, while making it easier for the rest of the industry to trace their wines.

Liv-ex claims the L-WIN will help warehouses to improve database accuracy, traders to avoid identification errors when buying or selling wine, and logistics staff to better track their orders.

James Miles, Liv-ex director, said: “We have designed L-WIN to serve as a common language for the wine trade. L-WIN compatible users will be able to transfer large amounts of data – whether that be price lists, warehouse records or purchase orders – to other users in an instant. And both sides will be able to identify exactly which wines the records refer to.”

Wine recommendation site Adegga already offers a similar code known as an AVIN, but this identifies each wine, including each vintage, with a unique code. AVIN codes are aimed at online use to group together all blog posts about a particular wine in one place.

By contrast, L-WIN refers to the wine by producer and brand, grape or vineyard. Additional information, such as vintage, bottle size or pack size can be added as separate fields. (Gemma McKenna/www.harpes.co.uk)