Reading the Wine Label

Reading the Wine Label

Welcome to Vine to Wine I’m your host Linda Moran. When it comes to wine labels the laws differ from one wine constituency to the next. But the things that are really most important to selecting a wine are usually always there. Today we will begin discussing the reading of a wine label.

I must begin by saying that the visual appeal of the label has very little to do with the quality of the wine. The first thing to learn from a label, can also be one of the most confusing, and that is what kind of wine is it? Here in the United States we most often name wines for the kind of grapes they were made from. If the wine is made from Chardonnay grapes it will state Chardonnay on the label. But if the wine is from France it may not state the grape it will likely identify the region the wine came from. In the case of Chardonnay from France it may be from Chablis or Bordeaux. To know that the wine was a Chardonnay you would have to know the white grape most commonly grown in Chablis or Bordeaux is Chardonnay. If you aren’t clear about this, never hesitate to ask for help from your wine merchant. Next, take a look at the age of the wine that is the year stated on the bottle. That will let you know if the wine is ready to drink. You will also notice the name of the region and vineyard the wine was is from. Take note of this as you may find that you like wines from a specific area. So start by figuring out what kind of wine you’re looking at, check the vintage and notice where it is from. You may find yourself trying new wines that you’ve never heard of. Have fun and thanks for joining me on today’s Vine to Wine.

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