Understanding Wine Labels — Wine Regions and Varieties

In the international market, although there are various and complex wine types, they can be roughly divided into two categories: New World and Old World, and their wine labels also have their own characteristics. Generally speaking, New World wines will be labeled with the region and grape variety, while Old World wines will usually be labeled with the region names, but the grape variety will not be displayed.

In front of a variety of shelves, or in the unique wine cellar, how to choose a bottle of fine wine, often makes wine beginners at a loss. In fact, if you want to choose the wine that meets your expectations, reading the wine label is the key. The wine label contains a lot of information, especially the wine region and grape variety listed on the label, which often suggest the quality and taste style of wine. Read these information, you can have a preliminary understanding of wine.

Old World Wine

The Old World refers to well-known European wine-producing countries with a long history, such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Portugal. High-quality Old World wines usually carry a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label to show that the wine is subject to strict legal constraints in terms of its production location, grape variety, grape growing and winemaking. PDO label is often presented on wine labels in the form of traditional terms, such as AOC / AOP (Appellation d’Origine Controlee / Protegee) in France and DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) in Italy.

Due to the strict laws on the production of wines with PDO label, some wine producers tend to mass-produce wines according to the standards of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), such as Vin de pays in France. In a broad sense, PGI refers to larger regions with fewer regulations and a wider range of grape varieties. When making this kind of wine, the producer can choose to use the international grape varieties planted in the production area, rather than limited to the traditional grape varieties. Unlike wines with a PDO label, Old World wines with a PGI label usually state the grape variety on the label. If there is no mention of grape varieties, then this wine is likely to be made from less well-known local varieties.

Among the Old World wines, there are also some wines that do not indicate their origins, such as Vin de France. The production regulations for this type of wine are the broadest, and wine labels usually do not indicate the specific region or sometimes the grape variety.

New World Wine

All New World wines are labeled with the region and grape variety name on the label. In the face of New World wines, consumers can infer the flavor and characteristics of the wine through the main grape variety displayed on the wine label. For example, if a wine is labeled “Napa Valley” and “Cabernet Sauvignon”, it means that this is a red wine from Napa Valley, California, mainly made of Cabernet Sauvignon. Therefore, it can be inferred that this wine has black fruit aromas such as blackcurrant and blackberry, full-bodied and firm tannin.

Generally speaking, the wine label of New World wine is simple and straightforward, usually indicating the region and grape variety directly, so that the consumers can easily know about the wine through the label. While, the information contained in the wine labels of the Old World wines is more implicit, and consumers need to speculate about the relevant grape varieties through the region. Although this process is sometimes complicated, each attempt is the consolidation and accumulation of wine knowledge, which is also a pleasure.

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References

How to Read a Wine Label. (2012, November 25). Retrieved from https://winefolly.com/tutorial/how-to-read-a-wine-label/.

Understanding Wine Labels. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dummies.com/food-drink/drinks/wine/understanding-wine-labels/.

Wine Label Information. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-label.