In the April edition of this newsletter, we began to
explore the mystery, history, and mystique that
surrounds a wine label. As we continue, I will try to
help our readers better understand what some of the
words, phrases, symbols and notations stand for on a
wine bottles official document.
If you think the information given to you on a wine
bottle is confusing, think of how they had to deal
with this situation long before labels were available.
The reason wine bottles have their many unique
shapes was not without reason. The shape of a
bottle often told you exactly what style of wine was
actually inside. A tall, straight, high shoulder vessel
usually indicated that a Bordeaux Claret wine was
inside. One with a broader base with sloping
shoulders meant a Burgundy was within. The hock
style vessel, tall and tapered with no shoulder was
meant for German style wines. Thus, the shape of
the bottle was often the indicator for what style of
wine you were being
served.
With the introduction of paper labels being affixed to
wine bottles, no exact standards were ever put in
place as to what information was required to be
printed on them. Typically, the producer’s name, the
village where the grapes were grown, and vintage
date were about the only information ever needed.
Over time, mandatory regulations dictated that
certain data be required on each and every wine
label. Bottle size, alcohol content, importer and
country of origin are but a few that were added.
Today, either by law or by the disgression of the
winery, more and more information seems to be
spread across the front of each and every wine
bottle. You'd swear a billboard sized signage, a
magnifying glass and a Lone Ranger Ovaltene decoder
ring were necessary equipment to display and
decipher the volumes printed on these labels
today.
With wines being imported from an ever growing
number of countries throughout the world, most Old
World estates have very standardized labeling
regulations. Others, mostly New World wines from the
United States, Australia and South America, are a bit
more lax as to what must be defined for the
consumer. Yet, much of the information presented
are one in the same, just in a different language. Let
us look and compare some of the descriptive we find
on various bottles in our cellars and on store
shelves.
The terms tinto, rotwein, rosso and rouge all mean
red wine. Blanco, bianco, and blanc are terms that
stand for white wine. Dry, as in a style of wine, may
be indicated by the terms sec, seco, secco, trocken,
brut, or szaraz. Or course, we should all know that
vin, vino, vinho and wein all stand for our favorite
beverage,
wine.
Old World wines, mostly from European nations, seem
to pose the most problem for consumers in terms of
understanding what exactly the information on a label
is trying to convey. Classifications as to the quality
level of a producer are quite clear. Knowing the
descriptive is the key. Here is what you may see on a
label, depending on the country of origin, which will
describe wines of good to great quality.
In France, indicators such as Cru Classe, Grand Cru
Classe, Premier Cru, AO, VDQS, Vin de Pays, Vin de
Table represent their different levels of
quality.
In Italy, their tiers are based on the terms DOC,
DOCG, Riserva, Riserva Speciale and
Stravecchio.
QmP on a German wine label represents their highest
quality
wines.
As for a quality barometer on New World wines, the
AVA district, vinyard designation, or producer may be
your only indicator as to their guarantee of quality.
Though terms such as Reserve, Grand Reserve,
Special Reserve and Vintners Reserve may hold some
truth to their validity for many honest producers,
these words may reflect nothing more than an
advertised falsehood by other Prince's of Plonk.
Since there is no governing license control as to how
these items may be used on a bottle, always
remember, buyer beware.
Another significant notation on a bottle as to its
quality can be the fact that it was Estate Bottled or
Estate Grown. This means that all facets of the wine
making process have been performed under one
umbrella, under one roof, where no outside tasks had
taken place in the production of a bottled wine. A
winemaker who undertakes total responsibility and
control in all facets of production usually result in
wines crafted of higher quality. Estate bottlings listed
on a label will be represented by the words Aus
Eigenem Lesegut or Gutsabfullung for German wines,
Denominazione d' Origin in Italy, Embotellado en
Propriedad in Spain and Mis en Bouteille au Domaine
or au Chateau in France.
When buying a bottle of Champagne, (remember that
only wines grown and bottled in this region of France
can legally be described as true Champagne) there
are a few terms that baffle even the most savvy of
wine lovers. The term Method Chamenoise means
that the wine was fermented in the bottle. NM
descreetly found on a label means Negociant
Manipulant, a person who has purchased grapes and
blended them into his own
style.
Most champagnes are made primarily from 3 grape
varietals: chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.
We all know that the juice inside every varietal of
grape contains clear juice when pressed. The skin of
a red grape, when in contact with this clear liquid,
will ultimately lend to its actual color. Thus, the
reference Blanc de Blanc means white wine from
white grapes and Blanc de Noir indicates white wine
from red
grapes.
To refresh our readers, when it comes to the flavor
desriptors for Champage, in terms of driest to
sweetest, here is the learning curve
table.
- * Extra Brut - Bone
Dry
- * Brut -
Dry
- * Extra Dry - Medium
Dry
- * Sec - Touch
Sweet
- * Demi Sec -
Sweet
- * Doux - Very Sweet
In terms of German wines, these levels
apply.
- * Kabinett - Dry to touch
Sweet
- * Spatlese - Sweet
- * Auslese - Very
Sweet
A few final notes on various items that may be found
on a label, the word Bin #, found predominately on
Australian wines, describes a particular batch, a
certain region, or a specific vineyard blend fielded by
the
winemaker.
A winery or producers name on a label can also be
deceptive without trying to do so. With the
globalization of wine, many producers now are in
partnership or have purchased vinyards in other
countries, far from their established home base. In
the case of Mondavi and Greg Norman wines, each
has bottlings on store shelves produced from grapes
grown in other countries. Be aware that a Mondavi
wine way in fact indicate Product of Chile instead of
Napa or California. Also new to the market are wines
labeled Product of California for Greg Norman wines,
who is best known for his Australian bottlings. The
information is there, if only we would take the time to
look a little
closer.
Now that we have touched on the many familiar or
foreign aspects described and found on wine labels,
(Lord knows there are many more that we haven't
the time or space to explore) we hope you have a
better understanding of the many descriptors found
on a wine label. The information provided may well
aide you in a more educated purchase. If there is still
a question you have feel was left unanswered
regarding this subject, simply drop me an e-mail or
talk with one of our wine professionals here at
Champane's Wine Cellars. Its the better alternative
rather than pointing you in the direction of the
nearest animal, caricature, cartoon, painting or
building on the nearest bottle. In any case, keep the
corks a popping, the glasses clinking, and the wine
continuously flowing.
