There are a number of pieces of information that can be on a label. They are not all required. They do not have to be in any particular order on the label.
BRAND NAME: This is the name of the wine producer, or the specific brand – if they make several different brands. This is required on the label which can be either on the front, or the back label.
QUALITY DESIGNATION: This is a brand by brand designation. There is no legal definition for the quality indicators. This is all about marketing.
VINTAGE: This is legally required on the label, or if there is no vintage listed then there should be NV, or non-vintage somewhere on the label. The vintage year is the year the grapes were picked. If the wine is non-vintage then it is a blend of more than one vintage. Vintage can be helpful in figuring out wine quality because there are vintage to vintage differences due to weather events.
ESTATE DESIGNATION: This is an indication that the fruit comes from the winery property, or estate. This indicates that the fruit is being grown under the supervision of the winery. It is an indication of quality, but there are no rules about how an estate vineyard is farmed.
VARIETAL: This is the grape variety. The majority of the wine in the bottle is that variety. You can purchase blends, and typically they do not have the majority of any single varietal. Blending is a way that winemakers are able to provide you with excellent wine. They are able to take several different wines in different proportions and create a wine that suits their consumer. Blending is not a bad thing.
FANCIFUL NAME: This is not required and falls under the category of marketing.
VINEYARD DESIGNATION: This is not required. It tells you that 95% of the fruit came from a specific vineyard. This is used commonly in regions that have famous vineyards. It is certainly in the category of marketing, but it is a strictly regulated piece of information.
APPELLATION: Appellations are defined by political boundaries like the County, State, or Country of origin. If the wine only has a political area listed then 75% of the fruit used to make the wine must come from that area, and 100% must come from the state that the area is located in. If our hypothetical label above ad indicated Napa County then 75% of the fruit must come from somewhere in Napa County, and 100% of the fruit must come from California.
AVA or AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREA: Is a federally recognized area area where 85% of the fruit used to produce the wine must come from. Oakville is an AVA in the heart of the Napa Valley and it has been recognized as a unique growing area by the federal government. If a wine label indicates Oakville then 85% of the fruit must come from Oakville and 100% of the fruit must come from California.
ALCOHOL: The alcohol percentage is a strictly regulated requirement on the label. The only time that you do not see an alcohol percentage is when the wine is labeled as a Table Wine. A table wine has 14% or less alcohol.
Other things you will find on a label are the government warning that warns consumers about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy, and drinking and driving. Another requirement is to indicate that the wine contains sulfites. Sulfites are an allergen and this is an attempt to make consumers aware that there are potentially negative side effects to consuming wine. (Most wines do contain sulfites – the exception is organic wine)
All of the label requirements are there to try to help a consumer get what they are paying for. The optional marketing items are there to imply quality, but they are not strictly regulated. Things I look for when I am ordering wine in a restaurant are:
- Brand – is there wine from a winery that I know and trust? If not…
- AVA – is there a variety that I like that is grown in a region that I like? i.e. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Price – not on the label, but I do always consider the price