How to Read a Wine Label

Labeled by Name

Generally, wines that are labeled by a proprietary name are made from a blend of grapes unique to that vintner. Sometimes, vintners use proprietary names for different wines made from a single varietal.

Labeled by Variety

Wines are often labeled by variety. Each country has a minimum percentage of each grape required for a label to carry that name. If a wine has less than the requirement, the wine label may list the percentage of each grape the wine contains.

Labeled by Year

The year a wine is produced can have major impact on the fruit character and taste of the wine. This is why the year is almost always listed clearly on every wine bottle.

Labeled by Region

It's common for producers in countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Portugal to label their wines by region — especially when it is a renowned region, like Bordeaux. The grapes grown in this region are usually historical and make up the majority of wines produced in that region.

Remember, sometimes important regional or proprietary information is located on the back label!