One of the most baffling subjects that confronts the budding wine enthusiast is the deciphering of the myriad of information contained on the bottle label, especially that contained on wine bottles from European countries. Once the basic rules are taken on board it becomes a lot simpler. Whereas most New World countries put details of the grape varieties on the front label, a lot of European regions do not, and as this is the most basic of information for taste purposes why is this the case?
European winemakers tend to put more emphasis on the place of origin. For instance, a Bordeaux red typically wont say Cabernet or Merlot on the front label, but instead have the name of the chateau where it was made, and usually the part of Bordeaux where it was made, for example Haut-Medoc. Similarly a Sancerre is totally Sauvignon Blanc, but an in depth analysis of the label will leave you none the wiser. For the French the important factor is that the wine comes from Sancerre in the Loire valley and for them it is inbred knowledge that white Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc.
Moving south to Spain, red Rioja declares itself as Rioja on the label, not Tempranillo the grape variety used, whilst in Italy most Tuscan reds have no information on the Sangiovese grape that is most widely used in these wines. Given this mish-mash of information it is no wonder that many of us head for that bottle with the label announcing it is a Chardonnay Viognier from the Ironstone Vineyard of California.
It is clear then that the Europeans believe the most important factor influencing a wines character is the soil, climate and culture of the area where the grape is grown and this is particularly important to single-vineyard wines who make the most of capturing the essence of a particular area of land. So whereas a French winemaker will see his wine as reflecting the character of a particular region, a New World winemaker mad about grape varieties will consider that soil is just the growing medium in which the fruit grows, and that the grape variety and hard work in the winery are what really counts. Today these two opposing approaches to wine labelling are moving closer together with New World producers emphasising their regionality and its characteristics, whilst European, even the parochial French winemakers possibly prompted by the wholesalers and the supermarkets are labelling their wines more clearly.
James Pendleton is a lover of the better things in life. For more information on wine visit Wine Capital.
Wine Labels - Looking Beyond The Wine Content
There are a lot of wines available in the market. To know more about any of these varieties, brands and classes of wine, you should read the wine label.A wine label offers the first clues about a certain wine. People usually do not have a chance to t...
What You Can Learn From Wine Labels
Have you ever stood in the wine aisle staring at row and row of wine bottles wondering which wine you should buy? Most people will select a wine because they like the label. They are usually drawn to an interesting graphic or clever name on the lab...
Wine Making Supplies
One of the most popular beverages in the world is wine. Whine has an important role in celebrations, events, rituals and ceremonies.Wines are usually made in prestigious wineries all around the world. Presently however, there are many people who make...
Wine Label Removal: A Sticky Situation
Removing the label from a bottle of wine may seem like an every day occurrence; surely people everywhere have their reasons for scraping fingernails against a square of paper. Perhaps some people remove the label to make a wine collage. Perhaps some ...
Ipods VS Major Labels
Something that I really think is funny with the whole internet revolution and the evolution of illegal file sharing is how the major labels are reacting to this whole new industry. We've all heard the horror stories about people being sued by the ma...
The Mystery of Decanting
Decanting is a strange word to many people. Some do not even know what it means exactly. Taking the sophistication out of it, decanting literally means pouring the wine from the bottle to a special glass container. This is done in order to expose the...
Iron Wine Racks
The use of wine racks is a necessity for people who want to set up a personal collection of the finest wines at their home. Wine racks are available in various shapes and sizes as per the needs and preferences of the customers.The iron wine rack is o...
Red Wine Storage Tips - What You Should Know About Storing Your Red Wines
For people who collect and enjoy red wine, making sure that the bottles are stored properly is very important. Here are a few simple tips that will help you with, red wine storage, which will allow you to keep your red wine in top condition, making i...
The Proper Care and Storage for Wine
The consumption and collection of wine has been growing over the last few years. While more and more money has been going into wine as investment or for future consumption, questions about the wines history are asked. So the question often arises w...
How To Select The Finest Wine Rack For Your Home
For many people starting out, it can be a very difficult and oftentimes overwhelming experience picking out the perfect wine rack. While there are many things to take into consideration when deciding which rack is perfect for your needs, deciding wh...
