How to read a wine label?

Choosing a good wine starts with its identity card: the label. But first you need to know how to read between the lines… So before setting your sights on the first bottle you come across, and to learn how to decipher the famous little rectangle, here is some information to get your teeth into.

Mandatory information

Bottling

To find out where and by whom the wine was bottled.

• "Bottled at" (château, property, estate…): bottled directly at its place of vinification
• "Bottled by" (producers, winegrowers, merchants, …): bottled by a cooperative
• "In the region of": bottled within the wine's appellation area

The appellation

This is one of the most important pieces of information on the label. A certified and controlled designation, the appellation is a guarantee of quality, awarded to wines that meet certain conditions (compliance with the specifications, preservation of the terroir). They are classified in ascending order of quality:

• WI (Without Geographical Indication)
• IGP (Protected Geographical Indication)
• AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée)
• AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée)

Capacity

Volume of wine contained in the bottle, indicated in L, cL or mL.

Alcohol content

This refers to the alcohol content, expressed in degrees or as a percentage of the total volume. Beyond the figure itself, it is a useful indicator for identifying a wine as lighter or fuller-bodied.

The pregnant woman pictogram

It appears right next to the alcohol content. This is a health warning representing the dangers of alcohol consumption for pregnant women.

Allergens

Lists the allergens present in the wine, such as sulphites (sulphur dioxide).

Optional information

The vintage

It indicates the year of the grape harvest. Quite useful when one knows that certain wines are better once they have aged well or when they have benefited from particular climatic conditions.

The name of the estate

This is mandatory for wines with a Geographical Indication.

The grape variety

The grape variety used in the making of the wine: single-varietal for one, multi-varietal for several.

Food and wine pairing suggestions

They are generally found on the back label (on the back of the bottle) and are used to suggest the dishes that will pair best with the wine.

Production information

"Aged in barrel", "Hand-harvested", "Old vines"… All of these provide additional information on the production methods.

Sugar content

Most often, the sugar content is indicated for white wines. Quite useful, as it allows one to distinguish between dry and medium-sweet.

Lot number

Expressed in letters and figures, it indicates the total quantity of products made in the same way.

@studioarsene // Marie Ormières