LABELING:
Understanding the labeling techniques used around the world will help you to
select wine confidently in the future. These are general definitions
of the three main techniques used, and further discussion will
follow further along as we begin our discussion of grape varieties
and wine regions.
VARIETAL LABELING: Predominantly used by what is commonly referred to in the wine industry as 'The New World' which includes the
United States
,
Australia
,
New Zealand
, South America, and
South Africa
. In addition to New World countries, parts of
Italy
and
France
also use this type of labeling. Varietal labeling indicates the primary grape found in the wine blend, with regional regulations playing a role in the minimum percentages allowed
for the use of a varietal name. For instance, in California, a
wine must be 75% of the varietal indicated on the bottle to carry
its name, and 90% in Oregon, 85 % in
Australia
, 75% in Washington.
REGIONAL LABELING: In the 'Old World' countries (
France
,
Italy
,
Spain
,
Germany
), the regional label indicates by law what grapes are used to make the wine of that
place. This came about from years of discovering which grape varietals grow best
in each region. When looking at a French Bordeaux, for instance,
you would know that the wine is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon
or Merlot, with bits of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and or Petit Verdot
blended in. There are governmental agencies in each of these countries
who have developed laws which govern the planting, production and
labeling of wine.
When looking at labels from "New World' countries, you'll notice that regions are included. Looking back
to our definition of wine, you'll remember the reference to the
'district of origin.' In this respect, the regional reference
is simply an indication of the location of the grape production
(i.e. Napa Valley vs. Sonoma Valley). Knowledge of the regional
differences will give you an idea of what grapes produce better
wines in each region.
PROPRIETAL LABELING: Proprietal names are created by wine producers for creative purposes. In the case of New World wines, the bottles with proprietary names usually
contain wines made from a blend of grapes, therefore Varietal Labeling
cannot be used. In the case of Old World countries, the grapes
used to make the wine may not have been approved grapes for the
region, or may not be the proper blend of grapes, therefore Regional
Labeling may not be used. |
