A gesture that we all know and have done, that of turning the bottle to go beyond the label and discover something more.
The label (or rather the BACK - label) of a wine is its identity card, and is able to tell you and explain many of the things you should know about the contents of the bottle! From the area of origin to the variety of grapes used, from the vintage to the production method, from the presence of any allergens to the recommended serving temperature... and some even include the recommended pairings. Let's say, therefore, that reading the label is a bit like making sure you don't get yourself into a blind date where you don't know who will show up! And let's face it... it can be good... but most of the time it isn't.
Obviously, reading and knowing how to read a label are not exactly the same thing: that's why we thought we'd give you some basic notions that can help you and guide you towards the right purchase. As wine lovers, even before producers, we know how unpleasant it is to pour a low quality product into a glass while hoping, instead, that it will be anything but. And believe us, it happens to a lot of people: especially those who boast of in-depth knowledge in the sector just to impress their friends. So don't feel alone or unprepared if when choosing a wine you don't know where to turn... you're in excellent company.
What information is mandatory
Current legislation on food and drink labeling requires that some information is mandatory:
The name of the bottler, its headquarters and its company name are some of the information that must be included on the label . This does not mean that the area in which the bottling took place must necessarily coincide with that of vine cultivation.
The batch number to which the bottle belongs is also essential, so that its origin can be traced at any time for any checks. The capacity of the container must also be specified on the label, compatible with the volume of wine contained in it, which can be expressed in different units of measurement, i.e. litres, milliliters or centilitres as well as the percentage of alcohol on the volume (alcoholic strength).
If sulfur dioxide is present inside the bottle in quantities exceeding 10 mg/litre, the label must have the words "contains sulphites".
What information is really important
The very first, if not the most important, element you need to identify and verify is that the denomination of origin of the wine and the bottling area are the same: it is not enough to rely only on the areas of origin of the grapes. A Nero d'Avola that lists Verona or Milan as the bottling province on the back, for example, should raise some questions.
But let's take it one step at a time! Because we don't want to take any concept for granted! What is meant by denomination of origin? As defined in the EU Regulation: the name of a region, a specific place or, in exceptional cases, a country which serves to designate an agricultural or food product originating in that region, that specific place or that country, the quality or whose characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographical environment, including natural and human factors, and whose production, transformation and processing take place in the defined geographical area. Chianti, Barbera del Monferrato, Amarone della Valpolicella, Isonzo del Friuli…
DOC and DOCG, currently enclosed in a single acronym DOP (Protected Origin) and IGT (Typical Geographical Indication) are certainly a guarantee of quality and establish the fact that, in addition to the controlled geographical origin, they respect production techniques that they influence the particularities and quality, such as the limited production of the grapes. We can understand them as the first step that separates the so-called table wines from those with an indication of origin.
This first distinction, therefore, should already give you a hand in carrying out an initial screening of the bottles you need to evaluate.
Keep in mind, however, that the designation of origin is not synonymous with the quality of the wine, but only with the origin of the grapes. In addition to the vintage, the real difference is made by the agronomic techniques used in production and those of winemaking and bottling. When you read “bottled by ICQRF…” followed by a code, for example, you should know that behind this bottle there are large merchants who make immense numbers of bottles by blending different batches. It is better to focus on products that say: "Entirely produced and bottled by ..." or "Bottled at origin by...", they give you the guarantee of drinking a wine that has been followed, cared for and made entirely in the same company.
The environmental and nutritional label
Since 1 January 2023, the legislation has been in force which clearly expresses that all packaging must be labeled to facilitate its collection, recovery and recycling in order to avoid creating confusion for the final consumer.
In other words, the environmental label aims to provide information on:
- the composition of the packaging that contributed to the formation of the single bottle
- theirs correct disposal at the end of use
From 8 December 2023 it will also be mandatory to indicate the list of ingredients and the nutritional declaration of wines on the label according to Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 published on 2 December 2021.
Now all these wordings, although essential to guarantee transparency and clarity of information, for the total benefit of the potential buyer, risk making the wine label - or rather its back label - too distracting.
The QR code, applied on the back, comes to our aid. Once scanned by a simple smartphone, the QR code will redirect users to a web page where product information will be available.
In summary, when you happen to be in front of a shelf full of bottles, remember to:
- give importance to who bottled the product by favoring the producer rather than a third party bottler
- look for the area of origin of the grapes and the place of processing
- check that the grape varieties are specified.
Obviously, personal taste and the combinations you will make with the chosen product are the final discriminating factors that will make tasting the purchased wine completely pleasant or not. Precisely for this reason, if you have the possibility because you live in an area near the manufacturer, we recommend that you go and visit him, or otherwise visit the company's website. A chat with whoever produces that wine could give you the opportunity, with guided tastings, to identify the most suitable one for you, and a more targeted knowledge of the recommended culinary combinations.
Discover the program of visits and tastings at our cellar.
Cheers!