What's On The Wine Label And Why?

A wine label tells you the country of origin, the grapes, where the grapes were grown, where the wine was bottled, who imported it to your country, how much alcohol is in the bottle, and how sweet the wine is. 

The bottle shape might tell you the country and style of wine if a particular wine is always sold in that style of bottle. 

The colour of the bottle may protect the wine from light and possibly heat. The red wines will be in dark bottles. Rose wines are often in white. More darker pink colour, more black skin from dark grapes. Generally a drier wine.

The year of the wine tells if it was a good year or a bad year (lots of sun or rain), as well as if the wine is young, or vintage. Gone brown, gone off.

Is it an ordinary wine, or a vintage? The French say vin ordinaire for ordinary wine. 

A blend? 

Appellation   

Apel is French for name. The appellation is the Name or naming on a wine label restricted to an area or style of wine which often must also follow rules specifying which grapes are allowed. Why? In order to promote consistency and protect both the growers and customers from fakes and confusion.

ABV - alcohol by volume - the amount of alcohol. Percentage of alcohol.

When I first started drinking wine I collected wine labels in a book so I could re-order wines I liked and recognize them on a menu.

If you are in a restaurant, you ask for the sommelier. that's French for the wine expert. His job is to advise you on which wine will go with your food, within any budget you specify. 

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.