Drinkers should soon be able to sample a wider choice of European wines and have a better idea of what is in the bottle, according to backers of a proposed shake-up of the sector.

For the first time cheaper table wines could be labelled with their grape variety and ­vintage, something previously confined to controlled denominations such as Rioja in Spain and Pouilly-Fumé in France. This would allow them to compete with heavily branded New World imports.