How to read wine labels

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By pfincome
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Wine labels can seem very daunting - especially the foreign ones! The best way to sort through wine labels is to consider the source of the wine. If the wine is European, then usually the wine label will conform to the country’s appellation coding –a specific style and type of wine labeling in France and Italy. German wines have a more general style that shows only the village and region of production. In the U.S. the labels are often much more simplistic and easier to follow. Many chateaus and wineries have not changed their labels for generations. American wine labels generally are geared towards less traditional and more modern appeal for commercialization purposes. Whatever type of wine you enjoy, the wine label is an endearing trait that allows you to better appreciate the winemaker’s skill!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

French & Italian wines - You will see a central appellation that will include the property name of where the wine was produced, the year of harvesting, and the region where the wine was produced. Often, appellation labels will also have a logo or chateau-specific denotation. The appellation will also tell you the type of wine that was produced.
Step 2

German wines - The labels usually have the wine type, the year of harvesting and the region of Germany it was produced.
Step 3

American wines - will have the wine type, the year, and a general logo of the winery that produced it. More inexpensive wines have generic labels that have a logo and year only.