6 steps to know how to read a wine label

Following information contained in the wine label

Much has been said lately about wine label the food labeling system and a possible change in it. The topic was talked about since practically all of us are used to having a look at the calorie figures, ingredients and other nutritional information that is included in practically all the products we eat. On the other hand, we are less familiar with the information contained in the wine label .

We usually choose a wine by recommendation, because the winery sounds familiar, because we have previously tried it in a restaurant or because the name has caught our attention . We rarely make wine label this decision as a result of analyzing and understanding the information we find in what, for many, is the identity card of a wine.

Well, this is precisely what we are going to try to explain in this article: how to read the label of a wine, in this case Spanish. The objective? That the next time you have to choose a wine you do it thoroughly and thus know all its details and characteristics. Let’s go there!

It is your cover letter. And the most important. It is the first thing that the consumer identifies in the bottle. Sometimes this name coincides with the winery’s nomenclature. Others, with the wine label brand, seeks to reflect part of its history and personality. In all cases, it is a fundamental part of the wine that expresses in one or several words the essence and what that product wants to convey.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend to baptize wines with original and striking names and, as we have already seen, some of these names can balance the balance towards sale.

In Spain it is mandatory that the wine label includes if the wine is part of a Designation of Origin or, on the contrary, it is not endorsed by any regulation. The DO indicates its origin and / or the council that regulates it.

This mention does not only apply to wine, but also to other agricultural products and food, in order to guarantee the quality and characteristics of that product. The address of the producer and bottler is also usually added. In addition, in the case of wines destined for export , the country of origin must be added.

There is an important mention that guarantees the exceptional nature of wine in Catalonia. This is the Wine qualification, which certifies that they are wines from a unique vineyard, a specific type of soil and a that favors the maximum expression of the wine. It is the highest recognition that a wine can choose in Catalonia.

3. Alcohol content (or volume)

The law also requires indicating the percentage of alcohol included in each wine . This data can also give us some clue about the body of the wine . If you are looking for a light and easy to drink wine, take note that the alcohol content does not exceed 13%.

4. Year of harvest or vintage

Wine label must also include the year of the grape harvest. Although this data is not mandatory, the truth is that it is very useful because it is indicative of its quality.In the case of wines of Spanish origin, this data will often be accompanied by the aging time of the wine in the barrel and in the bottle.