8 Do’s & Don’ts When Reading Wine Labels.
Over the years, wine labels have evolved from their very basic and “just the facts” roots to more complex and aesthetically pleasing designs. As a result, when you go wine shopping, the labels are eye-catching and sometimes downright amusing – they include vibrant hues, illustrations, and intriguing typography that attract and hold the viewer’s attention, making your collection more aesthetically appealing.
Despite the fact that certain labels are eye-catching on a shelf, what do they tell about the wine within the bottle?
When picking a wine, it is critical to be able to correctly read the label since they are jam-packed with information and give you all of the necessary facts about what is within.
What Information Is Printed on Wine Labels?
Even while wine labels may differ in style from elegant to ostentatious, and from smart to humorous, all of them share a few key elements. It is possible that some of the information on a wine label is significant, and in certain cases, it is even required by law:
- Identifying a brand
- Grape varieties are available in a wide range of colors.
- The appellation of a place of origin
- Name and location of the bottler, as well as a health advisory
- Sulfates are listed in the declaration.
- Alcohol by volume (net volume)
- What to Look for on a Wine Label Properly
Learn the keywords so you can assess whether or not the wine is something you will appreciate. There are also critical components to be aware of and if at all possible, to avoid.
Educating yourself to be a knowledgeable purchase is the first step on the road to being a knowledgeable and educated consumer. When it comes to reading a wine label, there are nine do’s and don’ts that are strongly suggested to be followed.
- Select a wine label that has the essential information.
A wine label must include all of the information required by the government in order for the wine to be sold lawfully. Aside from this information, check to see whether all of the fundamental characteristics are obvious and well-explained. A label that is plainly written implies that the vineyard or manufacturer in issue is not attempting to conceal themselves behind the container. - Select a wine based on the amount of alcohol in the bottle.
When selecting a wine, the percentage of alcohol by volume, or ABV, is an important consideration. According to the government, this information must be put on every bottle of wine sold in the country. Wineries have two options for indicating the amount of alcohol by volume in their bottles:
There is a certain number.
A range of numbers is a collection of numbers.
When expressed as a percentage, the amount of alcohol in the wine reveals how rich it is; wines with greater alcohol content tend to have more palate weight, whilst wines with lower alcohol content tend to be light or less heavy. Overall, wines with a higher ABV include riper grapes, which results in more strong tastes in the final product.
- Take a look at the back of the package When It Comes to Purchasing Wine
While the front label includes a wealth of information, the rear label is just as significant as the front label. The rear label of a wine bottle also contains important information such as:
- Detailed information about the grapes (region or vineyard of origin, etc.)
- The location and address of the bottling plant
- Contains a significant amount of alcohol
- The presence of sulfates (usually listed as “contains sulfates”)
- The mission statement or slogan of the company
- The backstory of a certain bottling or the tale of the manufacturer.
- Do your wine shopping at well-established wine retailers.
Established wine merchants provide a variety of selections in one location, which may streamline your shopping experience and allow you to spend more time doing what you like doing – collecting and consuming wine.
A wine specialist is typically on hand to aid you in sorting through the hundreds of wine varietals currently on the market and choosing a high-quality wine. To give you an example, JJ Buckley is a high-end online wine merchant, and you can reach out to our online specialists for assistance in finding the appropriate variety of wine to complement your collection.
- Do not be fooled by the enticing lingo.
Catchy adjectives or phrases such as “handcrafted” and “noble” are meaningless buzzwords that are printed on wine labels to entice consumers to purchase the wine. The reality is that every wine is, to some extent, a handcrafted product, therefore marketing it as such is superfluous. As for the noble nature of wine, it is created from grapes, after all. That’s all there is to it. - Don’t let incorrect spelling slip through the cracks.
Because wine labels are often the initial point of contact between a customer and a bottle of wine, wineries are typically particularly cautious to ensure that all the t’s and i’s are crossed. Simple mistakes, such as mispelling a varietal name, may be a legitimate oversight, but high-end wineries make every effort to avoid making such errors at all costs. If you come across labels that include spelling errors, you should reconsider your purchase. These errors indicate that the winery may have been negligent with their product, which may have a negative impact on the overall quality of the wine. - Don’t automatically assume that award-winning wines are superior.
Many wine labels contain phrases such as “award-winning” or “world-class,” or they may display a series of medals to indicate their quality. Unfortunately, the most of them are inconsequential in nature. In certain cases, contests are used as a marketing technique, and some competitions include many “winners” in a single competition. Others even demand exorbitant admission fees in the thousands of dollars. Using a medal as part of your purchase criterion is perfectly acceptable if you know and trust the organizational body or newspaper that gave the medal. Take it with a grain of salt if it’s anything else. - Don’t just do things because they’re easy. Take a Stand for What You Believe in Wine labels often incorporate the word “bold” in order to make the wine seem more appealing. This, on the other hand, might be just another marketing tactic. Red wines are often considered to be the boldest in general, although the amount of alcohol and tannin in a wine are the factors that define its “boldness.”
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