How to Become a Grape Guru - Debunking the Wine Label

Are you label-challenged?
Wine labels can be a little intimidating to new or inexperienced wine drinkers. The label tells you everything you need to know about the wine inside the bottle and with a little practice it really isn't all that hard to figure out. The Grape Girls will help you decipher the words, numbers, foreign symbols and small print so you can select your next bottle of wine with pride. Learn to decode the label and arm yourself with the tools to be a savvy wine consumer!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wine Bottle

1. 
    

   VINTAGE - Indicates the year in which the grapes were harvested, not the year in which the wine was bottled, which for some wines may be years later. Most national wine laws require that at least 85% of the wine be harvested in the year of vintage; up to 15% may be blended in from other years.

2. 
    

   BRAND NAME - Company or firm (winemaker or winery) that made the wine. The name is used to identify and market the wine.

3. 
    

   QUALITY DESIGNATION - Words like 'Reserve' mean best of the best and 'Estate' indicates the grapes were grown and harvested in the winery's own vineyard.

4. 
    

   VARIETY/VARIETAL - The specific kind of grapes from which the wine was made. Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Merlot are all actual grapes. In the U.S. 75% of the wine's content must be from a named varietal; 85% in Europe and Australia.

5. 
    

   APPELLATION - The place in which the dominant grape in the wine were grown. This place can be an American Viticultural Area (AVA), or may state 'California' or 'France'. Many labels may list a more narrow appellation like 'Sonoma County' or 'Mosel-Saar-Ruwer' to take advantage of the option to denote a specific vineyard source. Most countries require wine-growing regions (appellations) to be defined by law, and wines made in these regions will carry legal language on the label.

6. 
    

   OTHER INFO - Wine labels also carry small print disclosing the size of the bottle and alcohol content measured in percent by volume. Consumer warnings typically appear on the back labels of wines sold in the U.S. including the notorious 'Surgeon General's Warning' and notices that the wines contain sulfites. The 'Wine Story' may contain the tasting notes of the wine and even a food pairing suggestion and is typically found on the back label. A health warning label is required by law on all alcoholic beverages 0.5% or more alcohol by volume.

Tips & Warnings

• Other designations may be used to identify the wine, such as Red Table Wine, White Table Wine or Dessert Wine.
• Sulfites occur naturally in almost all wines. They are also added to wine as preservatives to prevent spoilage and oxidation.
• This article contains general rules to reading a wine label. So, now that you are more comfortable use the information you learned and get out there and shop for wine with pride!
• Like all alcohol, wine should be consumed in moderation and only by adults 21 years of age and older. Please do not drink and drive.

[jl5080]

on 7/5/2009 Nicely done!

[grapegirls]

on 6/19/2009 @ljsnyder -Thanks for your comment! We did not indicate at all that the term "Reserve" has any legal significance whatsoever. Yes, it can sometimes be just a savvy marketing strategy, but conscious wineries and marketers do use the term to indicate better quality.

ALL - Keep reading and posting... Cheers!

[ljsnyder]

on 6/19/2009 Good content except for the statement on Reserve. The term Reserve holds no legal significance on wines in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world. It usually indicates a better quality wine, but in some cases it is just a fancy marketing strategy. And if you see a spanish wine with the term Gran Reserva don't think this is a special reserve. It is describing the wine making process of extra ageing.

[kianichelle]

on 4/12/2009 Thank you for the great information!

[starlet67]

on 3/24/2009 Great format and well written article on understanding wine!Great use of photos!5*