5 Clues to Decoding a Wine Label
With so many wines to choose from, how do you know which ones you’re going to like? The wine label has 5 clues that will give you an idea of how the wine will taste. Wine expert Tara Devon O’Leary explains. Plus – download our awesome Grape Variety Decoder, for free!
An average wine shop has upwards of 500 different wines on the shelf. Add those to the millions more available from online retailers and it’s no wonder people feel confused and overwhelmed when buying wine!
So how do you decide? If you’re like most, you’ll read the label. This may help in certain cases, but many wines have a lot of marketing chatter on the labels, while others provide no information at all. But regardless of what it says on the back of the bottle, there are several other clues we can find on a wine label that will give us an idea of how the wine will taste so we can make easy, confident, decisions.
Here are 5 clues to decoding a wine label:
Clue #1: Grape Variety
When the grape varieties are listed on the label, they are your best clue to understanding what the wine will be like. If it’s a common grape like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Grigio you’re likely to have had it before and will already have a general sense of the characteristics of the grape variety which will help you make an informed guess as to the wine’s style. There’s no guarantee, however, as winemakers’ personal styles vary. But in general, knowing the grape variety is a good start. And when the grape variety isn’t listed? That’s where the next clues come in (read on to get your downloadable Grape Variety Decoder!)
Clue #2: Geographic Region
When the grape variety isn’t listed, or if you don’t automatically know what to expect from the grape style, it’s still possible suss out some information from the second clue on the label – the region where the wine comes from.
Knowing the region where the wine is from can tell us the grape variety of the wine if it’s not listed. But in order to decipher that info, it means we need to know which grape varieties are used in particular areas. This pertains mainly to wines from the Old World like France, Italy, and Spain where the region is synonymous with the grape variety. If your wine is from one of the New World countries like the U.S., Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, etc., you’re in luck because they tend to take the guesswork out of it and list the variety along with the region on the label.
Let’s go back to those confusing Old World wine labels. If you don’t already know that the grape variety of a bottle of white Burgundy will always be 100% Chardonnay, you can still glean some information about the wine by considering the weather of the country.
What do I mean? Well, if you’ve ever grown vegetables in your garden, you’ll know that the weather conditions are a big factor in how your crop ripens and how the flavors develop. It’s the same with wine.
For example, Germany has a cool climate. It can warm up in the summer, but for the most part, it’s cool to downright freezing. Wines from cool climates will have more green, herbaceous characters, as well as more acidity and lower alcohol content than wines from a warm climate like in parts of Australia where the wines will have more ripe, juicy fruit, and higher alcohol.
I know what you’re thinking: “I’m supposed to remember all the different weather patterns and grape varieties in all the different countries that make wine?”
Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered!
I’ve created a downloadable Grape Variety Decoder! Download this 2-page cheat sheet which lists the names you’ll see on wine labels and their corresponding grape varieties. Take it with you when you go wine shopping and you can buy confidently!
Clue #3: Vintage
The third clue to understanding what the wine might be like is the year listed on the label – otherwise known as the vintage. The vintage refers to the year the grapes were harvested, not when the wine was released. So what can the vintage tell you about a wine? Several things:
Firstly, most white wines should be drunk young so they are as fresh as possible – so look for vintages that are between 1 and 3 years old. There are some whites that can age beautifully – two of my favorites are white Burgundies and the aromatic whites from Alsace – but in general, whites should be young and fresh.
Reds, on the other hand, can be drunk young, but often benefit from some age – although remember, the age of a wine alone is not an indication of quality. If you have an older red, and by older I mean 5 years or more, the tannins will soften and the wine will become more harmonious with time. I’d recommend you decant an older red to let the air get into it and release the aromas and flavors that have been locked away.
Another point about vintage is that some years are better than others due to the specific weather conditions in the particular region that year. To go back to what we were saying earlier about growing vegetables in your garden, your crop is going to be severely affected if there are floods or a drought during the growing season, and the same applies to grapes on a vine.
Too much rain or not enough can cause problems for the ripening of the grapes, as can an untimely frost or freeze. But when the weather behaves and nothing extreme occurs, it’s possible to have a good or even great vintage.
Clue #4: Name of Producer
The fourth clue we are given from the wine label is the name of the winemaker or producer. There are lots of popular names in wine which you might recognize – like Opus One in Napa or Chateau Lafite in Bordeaux. But if you come across a bottle you really love and have never heard of the winemaker, it’s a great idea to make a note so you can remember it in the future because chances are you’ll also enjoy other wines that producer makes.
If you come across a bottle you really love, make a note so you can remember it in the future because chances are you’ll also enjoy other wines that producer makes.
The key is that you record this information in the moment while you’re drinking the wine, so you can look it up later. There are lots of apps that let you log your notes and impressions (Delectable, Wine Notes, and even Evernote work well) so find one you like and are comfortable using, because even though you may not always have access to your computer when drinking wine, you’ll most likely have your phone handy.
Just snap a photo of the label and record your thoughts about the wine – did you like it? Why or why not? You may also want to note where you bought it and how much it was for future reference.
Clue #5: Alcohol Content
The fifth and final clue you’ll find on a wine label is the percentage of alcohol. If the alcohol content is 14% or higher, you will find yourself swaying pretty quickly. If you’re looking for a bottle to enjoy a glass or two on its own, choose one with lower alcohol content. Also, wines with high alcohol will actentuate any spice in the food you’re eating and may cause an uncomfortable burning sensation at the back of your throat (especially if the wine is out of balance).
So now you’re armed with 5 clues and a free downloadable cheat sheet to help unlock the mysteries on a wine label. Here’s to trying something new, learning something new, and enjoying every glass a whole lot more.
What terms have you found confusing on wine labels? Leave me a comment below – I’d love to help you decode them. Cheers!
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Tara Devon O’Leary is a sommelier, author of the popular blog WinePassionista.com, and co-host of the online wine show “The Punch Down.” Tara holds a Diploma certification from the world-renowned Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) where she is also a Certified Educator. She is accredited by the Society of Wine Educators as a Certified Specialist of Wine, is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers, and has served as judge at major annual international wine competitions. Tara’s advice is delivered with a dash of flair, heaps of enthusiasm, and zero snobbery.