diff --git a/datawrapper/charts/column.py b/datawrapper/charts/column.py
index f00270a..941cf23 100644
--- a/datawrapper/charts/column.py
+++ b/datawrapper/charts/column.py
@@ -127,6 +127,13 @@ class ColumnChart(
         description="List defining the order in which categories appear in the chart and legend",
     )
 
+    #: A list of columns to exclude from the color key
+    exclude_from_color_key: list[str] = Field(
+        default_factory=list,
+        alias="exclude-from-color-key",
+        description="A list of columns to exclude from the color key",
+    )
+
     #: The padding between bars as a percentage of the bar width
     bar_padding: int = Field(
         default=30,
@@ -332,6 +339,7 @@ def serialize_model(self) -> dict:
                 self.color_category,
                 self.category_labels,
                 self.category_order,
+                self.exclude_from_color_key,
             ),
             "color-by-column": bool(self.color_category),
             **PlotHeight.serialize(
diff --git a/datawrapper/charts/serializers/value_labels.py b/datawrapper/charts/serializers/value_labels.py
index 2ad8622..1082248 100644
--- a/datawrapper/charts/serializers/value_labels.py
+++ b/datawrapper/charts/serializers/value_labels.py
@@ -185,9 +185,6 @@ def deserialize(
                 result["value_labels_format"] = ""
                 result["value_labels_placement"] = "outside"
 
-            # Derive value_labels_always from show mode
-            result["value_labels_always"] = show == "always"
-
         else:
             # Simple format field (line, arrow, stacked-bar)
             if "value-label-format" in api_obj:
diff --git a/tests/unit/serializers/test_value_labels.py b/tests/unit/serializers/test_value_labels.py
index 1789627..00b9f20 100644
--- a/tests/unit/serializers/test_value_labels.py
+++ b/tests/unit/serializers/test_value_labels.py
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ def test_deserialize_hover_mode(self):
             "show_value_labels": "hover",
             "value_labels_format": "",
             "value_labels_placement": "outside",
-            "value_labels_always": False,
         }
 
     def test_deserialize_always_mode(self):
@@ -137,7 +136,6 @@ def test_deserialize_always_mode(self):
             "show_value_labels": "always",
             "value_labels_format": "0,0",
             "value_labels_placement": "inside",
-            "value_labels_always": True,
         }
 
     def test_deserialize_off_mode(self):
@@ -154,7 +152,6 @@ def test_deserialize_off_mode(self):
             "show_value_labels": "off",
             "value_labels_format": "",
             "value_labels_placement": "outside",
-            "value_labels_always": False,
         }
 
     def test_deserialize_multiple_column_chart(self):
@@ -172,7 +169,6 @@ def test_deserialize_multiple_column_chart(self):
             "show_value_labels": "always",
             "value_labels_format": "0.0a",
             "value_labels_placement": "below",
-            "value_labels_always": True,
         }
 
     def test_deserialize_missing_value_labels_object(self):
@@ -183,7 +179,6 @@ def test_deserialize_missing_value_labels_object(self):
             "show_value_labels": "hover",
             "value_labels_format": "",
             "value_labels_placement": "outside",
-            "value_labels_always": False,
         }
 
     def test_deserialize_with_custom_format(self):
@@ -200,7 +195,6 @@ def test_deserialize_with_custom_format(self):
             "show_value_labels": "hover",
             "value_labels_format": "$0,0.00",
             "value_labels_placement": "outside",
-            "value_labels_always": False,
         }
 
 
@@ -227,7 +221,6 @@ def test_round_trip_hover_mode(self):
         assert deserialized["show_value_labels"] == original["show"]
         assert deserialized["value_labels_format"] == original["format_str"]
         assert deserialized["value_labels_placement"] == original["placement"]
-        assert deserialized["value_labels_always"] == original["always"]
 
     def test_round_trip_always_mode(self):
         """Test round-trip for always mode."""
@@ -249,7 +242,6 @@ def test_round_trip_always_mode(self):
         assert deserialized["show_value_labels"] == original["show"]
         assert deserialized["value_labels_format"] == original["format_str"]
         assert deserialized["value_labels_placement"] == original["placement"]
-        assert deserialized["value_labels_always"] == original["always"]
 
     def test_round_trip_off_mode(self):
         """Test round-trip for off mode."""
@@ -271,4 +263,3 @@ def test_round_trip_off_mode(self):
         assert deserialized["show_value_labels"] == original["show"]
         assert deserialized["value_labels_format"] == original["format_str"]
         assert deserialized["value_labels_placement"] == original["placement"]
-        assert deserialized["value_labels_always"] == original["always"]