| How to read a wine label in a foreign language - or | | | | France: |
| even in English? Meanings of terms often vary | | | | |
| according to country - for example, | | | | 1. Brand name or name of estate. The producer |
| "estate-bottled" does not mean the same thing in | | | | of the wine. |
| the United States as it does in France. But | | | | 2. Regional name. In France, wine is labeled by |
| spending a little time deciphering a label pays off. | | | | region. Burgundy wine comes from the Burgundy |
| Hiding in it is valuable information about the kind | | | | region, but it might be made of a blend of several |
| and quality of the wine. | | | | kinds of grapes. |
| United States: | | | | 3. Estate-bottled. Grapes were grown and |
| | | | produced on the estate. |
| 1. Brand or winery name. | | | | 4. AC or VDQS: Guarantee by French |
| 2. Vineyard name. At least 85 percent of the | | | | government that the wine is authentic. |
| grapes must come from that vineyard. | | | | 5. Perhaps Cru or Premier Cru. Better than |
| 3. Varietal name (e.g. Chardonnay, Cabernet | | | | ordinary quality of grapes. |
| Sauvignon) Wine is labeled according to the | | | | 6. Vintage. |
| variety of grape. By law, it must contain at least | | | | 7. Other statements (size of bottle, shipper, etc.). |
| 75 percent of that variety (e.g., Chenin Blanc | | | | 8. Appellation. Place of origin. |
| must contain 75 percent Chenin Blanc grapes). | | | | Germany: |
| 4. Estate-bottled. The grapes were grown in one | | | | |
| county by the same producer. The term "made | | | | 1. Name of the village where wine was made, |
| and bottled by" means that a winery has made at | | | | ending in er. For example, wine from Wehlen is |
| least 10 percent of the wine - the rest can come | | | | called Wehlener. |
| from anywhere. | | | | 2. Vineyard (Weinberg in German). |
| 5. Vintage (a year). At least 95 percent of the | | | | 3. Grape variety. |
| grapes used in making the wine were harvested | | | | 4. Indication of dryness. Trocken, meaning dry; |
| in that year. | | | | Halbtrocken, half-dry. |
| 6. Other statements (size of bottle, alcoholic | | | | 5. Perhaps Erzeugerabfullüng, meaning "put in |
| content, etc.). If you see the words "table wine" | | | | bottles at the Chateau." |
| percentage of alcohol must be mentioned. | | | | 6. Weingut: winery. |