Wine ยท Labels
How to read a wine label
A label is a short briefing on the bottle. Learn what each part tells you and what it does not.
Reading labels is part of both real-world wine work and WSET exams. Rules differ by country, so learn the common elements first and the country rules second.
What most labels show
- Producer or brand: who made or sold the wine.
- Place: the region or appellation. In much of Europe, the place is the main identity of the wine; the grape may not be named.
- Grape variety: shown on many New World and some European labels.
- Vintage: the year the grapes were harvested. Non-vintage wines blend years.
- Alcohol by volume: a clue to body and ripeness.
- Volume: standard bottle is 750 ml.
Quality and style terms
- France: AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) names a place with set rules. In Burgundy, Grand Cru and Premier Cru mark classified vineyards.
- Italy: DOC and DOCG are controlled designations; Riserva usually signals extra ageing.
- Spain: Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva describe ageing before release.
- Germany: Prädikat levels such as Kabinett and Spätlese relate to grape ripeness at harvest.
Sweetness terms
- Still wine: dry, off-dry, medium, sweet.
- Sparkling wine: Brut Nature and Extra Brut (driest), Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux (sweetest). Note that Extra Dry is sweeter than Brut.
US label basics
- A wine labelled with a grape variety must contain at least 75% of that grape under federal rules; some states, such as Oregon, set higher minimums for many grapes.
- AVA labelling indicates where the grapes were grown.
- US labels must carry a health warning and, for most wines, a statement that the wine contains sulfites.
Practice
Find three bottles at home or in a shop and write down what each label tells you and what it leaves out.
Note: this is a general study guide written in our own words, not WSET's syllabus. For what is examined, always check WSET's published specification and your course provider.
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