When faced with so many bottles of wine in front of you, choosing a good bottle can be daunting. Deciding which wine to purchase or what you will like involves more than just choosing between red or white.
Being faced with so much choice at the liquor store will have you wishing you had a professional wine connoisseur to help you. But the skill of picking the right bottle for you is something that you can actually learn yourself.
A wine label tells you everything you need to know about the wine. Understanding the information printed on it can guide you to your perfect bottle.
Here’s how to understand the details mentioned on a wine label to help you purchase your next bottle.
1. Brand and producer
The first thing you will notice on a wine label is the brand. Many choose a wine solely because of its brand, as some names carry more prestige than others.
You will also notice that the name of a producer is sometimes attached. This producer could be a business, family, or even an individual person.
Producer information can give insight as to whether the wine was produced in an estate or not. Estate wines are likely of better quality than those from a single vineyard.
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2. Appellation
Wine experts have named appellation the determining factor of a good wine. What exactly is appellation? “Appellation” simply means the grape’s country of origin. Where the grapes are grown and harvested can tell you a lot about the wine.
Appellation is generally divided into several general appellation areas which are legally determined. Wine bottles with an appellation stamp mean that the winemakers adhere to strict production rules of the region, including ABV, period of aging, and varieties of grapes used.
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European Union Wine appellation
Wines from these European regions may be assigned a Geographical Indication (GI) label. This contains information about where in the EU the grapes were grown and harvested.
This information is important, as the location and terrain of the vineyard impacts the grapes, and therefore the wine.
Wines with a GI label are perceived to be of higher quality as those without. Some regions will even have a PGI level, meaning that the region is legally protected.
Below are the different appellation labels across the EU:
- Italy: Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Grantita (DOCG) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
- France: Appellation D’origine Contrôlée (AOC or AC)
- Spain: Denominación de Origen Calificada (DocA) and Denominación de Origen (DO)
American appellations
Wines made of grapes from this appellation are labeled with AVA (American Viticultural Areas).
To be labeled AVA, 75% of the grapes used in the bottle must come from AVA regions, of which there are currently 267 across the United States.
AVA states include California, Maryland, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Oregon among many others.
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3. Vintage
In the wine world, the word “vintage” is used to refer to the year in which the grapes were harvested before production. You may be wondering, why is the year of harvest noted instead of the year of production?
Natural disasters such as storms and floods occurring during a particular year can greatly affect the grapes, as they shift the agriculture in the area. It’s useful to look up the vintage date online to see if there were any significant events relating to weather.
Vintage year can also give insight as to how long the bottle has been aged.
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4. ABV content
ABV is the last information you need to know from wine label, the higher ABV of your beverage, the stronger it is. This information is particularly useful when looking for wine to pair with your food. The normal ABV for wine is around 13.5%, with white wines coming in at a little less than that.
Wines with a lower alcohol content are usually lighter on the palate, making them the perfect pair for dishes such as chicken, fish, or pasta.
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