Wine Label

Wine label is the printed or digital information attached to a wine bottle or package. It identifies the product and communicates details such as producer, brand, origin, appellation, grape variety, vintage, alcohol content, bottle volume and required regulatory information. The exact mandatory particulars vary by country and market.

Common information on a wine label

• Producer or bottler: the winery, estate, merchant or company responsible for the wine or bottling.
• Origin and appellation: country, region, geographical indication or protected designation.
• Grape variety: commonly shown on many New World labels; European appellation wines may identify the place rather than listing the grape.
• Vintage: the harvest year, subject to the rules of the relevant appellation or jurisdiction.
• Alcohol by volume (ABV): the stated alcohol percentage.
• Volume: the net quantity in the bottle, commonly 750 mL for a standard bottle.
• Allergen and ingredient information: required statements vary by jurisdiction and may include sulphites, ingredients or nutrition information.

Old World and New World labels

Traditional European labels often emphasize appellation, producer and vintage, with grape variety implied by the regional rules. Many New World labels highlight the grape variety and brand. These are broad tendencies, not strict rules; producers in every region use different labelling approaches.

Reading the label for service

Use the appellation, grape, vintage, producer and alcohol level to help assess the wine’s style and suitability for food pairing. The front label may be supplemented by a back label containing tasting notes, serving suggestions, importer details and regulatory statements.

Example: a bottle labelled “Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir, 2023” identifies a Canadian wine by region, grape variety and vintage, while a Burgundy label may identify the appellation and producer without displaying Pinot Noir prominently.

Chef’s tip: record the exact producer, cuvée, appellation and vintage in the wine list and purchasing system. Similar front-label names can refer to different wines and vintages.