How to Read a Wine Label

Wine labels are like languages – bottles from each region “speak” a different
language. So, to be conversant in wines from different locales, you must become conversant in the “wine language” used on different labels.

As a general rule, labels from “Old World” (European) countries contain more
information on the wine described than do the labels of wines from the “New
World” (Australia, North America, South America and South Africa).  However
, there are some notable exceptions: New World wine labels usually identify
the grape varieties used to produce a wine, whereas the labels of Old World
wines normally omit this information.  That’s because the grapes used to make
Old World wines are well known and often prescribed by local laws.  For example, almost all white wines from Burgundy are made from Chardonnay grapes, and nearly all Burgundian reds from Pinot Noir.  Burgundy labels “assume” that the purchaser knows this “wine fundamental.”

Example of a French label:

Example of an American label:
 

The “vintage” of a wine indicates the year in which the grapes were picked.
Almost all still wines come from a single vintage, so the year on the bottle refers to the year the grapes were picked and fermented.  A wine may be aged for some years before being released, so it is common to see newly released wines bearing a date from some years ago.  Fortified and sparkling wines, including Champagne, tend to be “non-vintage” because they are frequently created from a blend of different vintages, with the aim of maintaining a consistent “house style.”  In this case, the wine will have the letters “NV” (non-vintage) on the label.

Why might one vintage differ from another?
The main factor is the weather. The micro-climates in wine growing regions vary from year to year, sometimes quite dramatically, and grape varieties respond differently to different climatic conditions. For example Syrah (Shiraz) generally responds well to dry, sunny conditions that favor the ripening of its berries. That's why growers in South Australia's Barossa Valley have been particularly successful in producing wines made from this grape. On the other hand, Sauvignon Blanc responds well to somewhat cooler, damper conditions – which is why this grape thrives in France’s Loire Valley and New Zealand's South Island.

Which vintage should I buy?
It really depends on when you intend to drink the wine.  If you want to keep a wine for a few years, you should choose a vintage which offers great structure for long aging.  If you have a limited budget, or intend to enjoy the wine shortly after purchase, you are better off choosing an “easy drinking wine” produced for early consumption.

In addition, vintage can be more significant in “Old World” wine countries (such as France and Italy), particularly for premium wines.  In an effort to maintain consistency from year to year, many New World producers (such as those in Australia and the Americas) use grapes from a wider area to minimize the affects of climate variation. Taking grapes from a wider area means that in a poor year, a high quality wine can still be produced, by using grapes from areas that were less affected by the bad weather.  Many high-end Old World wines are made exclusively from grapes grown in specific vineyards.  This means that if that vineyard is affected adversely by weather in a particular year, there is no alternative but to produce wine using lower quality grapes than would be used in a “good” vintage.

For more information, or to view a vintage chart, please visit www.decanter.com.