How to Read a Wine Label

OUR TIPS

1. The region

Let’s start by taking a look at the wine's region of origin. Careful, though. The region is no indication of whether a bottle is a good or bad one. The regions are so vast that they can all offer the best and the worst, but at least you will know what kind of wine you are dealing with. Tannic, fruity, light, or powerful: each region offers wines with common characteristics, which are linked to the particular nature of the soils, the grape varieties and the climate.

2. The appellation

Often indicated at the bottom of the label, the appellation is the first guarantee of a wine’s quality. It is a certified, state-controlled label of origin. It corresponds to a given place that rarely exceeds the territory of a few municipalities. Wines that claim a certain origin must comply with precise specifications guaranteeing this. However, as the work done by the winegrower is essential, the quality of the wines within the same appellation can vary greatly.

3. The vintage

A wine’s vintage corresponds to the year in which the grapes used for its vinification were harvested. The value of a vintage is linked to the weather conditions that the vines had to face throughout the year. Unfavourable weather will likely alter the quality of the wine. However, the patient work of a meticulous winegrower can work miracles. So, don't judge a wine too quickly on the basis of its vintage alone.

4. The ranking

A classification system enables us to identify the plots of land within the largest French wine-growing regions that give rise to exceptional wines. If the classified wines of Burgundy and Alsace offer a certain guarantee of quality, the same does not apply to the wines of Bordeaux. In this region, classification dates back to 1855, and the know-how of today's winegrowers does not always correspond to what it was in the past. So be wary!

5. The domaine name

As a general rule, a wine bears the name of the domaine where it was produced. It can also take the name of the winegrower who made it or the merchant who blended it. All winegrowers have their own specific know-how and ideas about the best way to make their wine. It is on this continuously renewed expertise that the reputation of an estate, a winegrower or a wine merchant is built year after year.

6. The name of the cuvée

Cuvée names enable producers or merchants to distinguish their own wines. Indeed, several very different wines can coexist on the same domaine without all belonging to the same appellation. Often, the name of the cuvée enables the wine’s plot of origin to be identified. It can also allow winegrowers to highlight a special cuvée, or to indicate the grape variety(ies) from which the wine is made.