Wine labels contain quite a bit of information, some of which is crucial to understanding what’s inside the bottle, and some of which is simply there to draw the eye of the consumer. Here’s a quick guide that will explain what to look for on a wine label, as well as what to ignore.  Before proceeding, you should familiarize yourself with the useful distinction between the Old World and the New World. In the world of wine, the term "Old World" refers to the historic winemaking countries of Europe such as France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, while the "New World" refers to all of the winemaking countries outside of Europe such as the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. As we will see, wine bottles are labeled differently depending on where in the world they come from.

Basic Components of a Wine Label

Producer vs. Wine Name

The most prominent feature on a wine label is typically the name of the winery that bottled the wine, which can be thought of as the brand name of the wine (for example, “Chateau Latour” or “Opus One”). The producer or brand name usually figures prominently on the top or center of a label, though some labels are more stylized and feature the winery name on the bottom or side of the label. It’s important to note that some wine labels only display a proprietary wine name such as “Dom Perignon,” which is a branded wine made by a larger wine company. In this example, the Champagne producer Moet & Chandon is the maker of the wine called Dom Perignon along with several other wines.

Varietal vs. Appellation

In the New World, wines are labeled with the grape varietals they’re made from, so when selecting a bottle, we might look for a Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir. In contrast, wines from the Old World are labeled according to the appellation (or specific location) that they come from, such as “Chablis,” which is the name of a village in France, not a grape. Advanced wine drinkers study the laws regarding the permitted grape varietals and production methods of any given appellation in order to understand what’s in the bottle--in the example above, the specialty of Chablis is a white wine made from unoaked Chardonnay grapes, but nothing you read on the wine label will tell you that.

American wine consumers may find Old World appellations confusing at first, but European countries have developed specific winemaking laws and traditions over centuries of history that safeguard unique regional styles and serve as a legal guarantee to consumers. In contrast, a wine bottled in California only has to contain 75% of a particular grape to include its name on the label, and producers are not required to say what else is in the bottle. In this sense, New World labeling laws are not as transparent as we might think.

Wine Regions vs. Single Vineyards

Whether a bottle is from the New World or the Old World, a label will always tell you where the grapes used to produce the wine were sourced, and this designation can range in scale from an entire country or state (“France”) to a specific region (“Chablis”) or even a single vineyard site (the Grand Cru vineyard “Les Clos” in the village of Chablis). Generally speaking, as the source of the grapes narrows, the quality and price level of a wine will increase, such that a wine from Rutherford AVA in Napa Valley will usually cost more than a wine simply labeled “California.” In the Old World, the appellation is synonymous with the place where the wine is from, and any single vineyard site will often be indicated in quotations or will be listed next to the appellation (i.e. Chablis Les Clos).

Vintage vs. Non-Vintage

The vintage of a wine refers to the year when the grapes used to produce a bottle were harvested, which is usually not the year a wine was bottled and released. The vintage can tell you a great deal about the quality of a bottle of wine, as annual variations in weather and climate greatly affect the quality of any particular harvest. This is why you’ll hear wine critics saying that the same wine from the same producer can be better or worse depending on the year.

Some wines are labeled Non-Vintage (NV) or Multi-Vintage (MV), which indicates that the grapes used to make a wine were harvested in multiple years and blended together to make a single batch of wine. This is most commonly seen in the production of sparkling wine, when grapes will be selected from multiple harvests to ensure a consistent style over time as well as a consistent production level regardless of the quality of any given vintage.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

The level of alcohol listed on a label can offer clues about the style of the wine. In the Old World, most appellations prohibit alcohol levels higher than 13.5%, preferring lighter-bodied wines that are less fruity and higher in acidity. In the warmer climates of the New World, however, grapes tend to ripen more fully, and alcohol levels can reach 16-17% in dry wines. As such, the wines are usually fuller in body, deeper in color, and display more ripe fruit flavors. That said, there are exceptions to this rule in both the New and Old Worlds.

Other Information on a Wine Label

Estate Bottled

It is a common misnomer that a vineyard is the same thing as a winery -- a winery is a production facility where wine is made, while a vineyard is a physical site where grapevines are grown. The term "Estate Bottled" means that a wine was grown and made on a single contiguous property that includes both a winery and one or more vineyards. In contrast, so-called Negociant wines refer to producers who purchase grapes from non-contiguous vineyards for use at their winery.

Reserve

In the Old World, the term reserve can indicate that a wine was aged in barrel or bottle for a specific length of time, but the requirements for this designation vary by country and appellation. In the New World, the term has no legal meaning, and producers are free to use the term as they choose.

Old Vines or Veilles Vignes

Grapes harvested from older vines tend to have more concentrated flavors, but again, there is no legal definition for this term, and so-called “Old Vines” can actually vary in age from 15 to 115 years.

Contains Sulfites

The phrase “Contains Sulfites” is required by law to appear on any wine bottle label imported or produced within the United States. Sulfites in wine are widely thought to be the cause of headaches or allergic reactions, but in reality, a glass of orange juice has approximately 10 times the amount of sulfites as a glass of wine.