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 wine's 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.

About the Author

James Pendleton is a lover of the better things in life. For more information on wine visit Wine Capital

French Wines and More

Wine labels - Peeling off the mystery


One of the most baffling subjects that confronts the budding wine enthusiast is the deciphering of the myriad of information contained on the bottle l...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

French Wines Items For Viewing

Wine Enthusiast Concorde Lever Style Corkscrew Set


A gift that any host will appreciate! An impeccably designed and amazingly quick corkscrew that dependably extracts the cork from any bottle in a matter of seconds. It's specially engineered to twist in grasp and remove the cork with a minimum of effort and speed. The polycarbon design is ergonomically contoured for ease of use. Set includes a foil remover. Comes in an impressive presentation gift box.


Price: 39.95 USD



News about French Wines

Beyond Wine Tasting: A Spring Surge for Wine Education

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:01 PST

Cutting Costs on Delivery

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:39:33 PDT
If your ordering a bottle wine, or if you are a winery selling direct. Here are a couple of tips you should know.

If You Can't Get To The Award-Winning Wine… LoveWashingtonWine.com Brings The Wine To You

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:01 PDT

Award-Winning California Wine Club Announces Speedy Delivery of Exclusive, Hard-to-Find Wines Right to Your Doorstep

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:01 PDT
(PRWEB) June 8, 2007 -- The Gold Medal Wine Club is offering members the opportunity to purchase some of the world's finest, award-winning wines, with expedited delivery right to your front door...


Wine Merchants
Wine Supplies

Labels: Wine Stoppers

&type=page">