Old World Label Description

HOW TO READ A LABEL?

Old World Label

1.       Vintage - This is the year the grapes were harvested. When the vintage appears on the label, at least 95% of the wine must be from that specific vintage.

2.       Name of the Producer or Winery.

3.       Premier Grand Cru Classé - Indicates the status of the wine according to the classification in this case the highest classification. Premier Grand Cru Classé" tells us this chateau was one of the five original "First Growth" chateau from the Classification of 1855.

4.       Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. Indicates the name of the specific classification this wine belongs to.

5.       Appellation Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Controllée. Refers to the fact that the wine is produced under the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) regulation of Saint-Émilion. The AOC which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines. It refers as well to quality standards in France. Regional labels can no longer be created.

However the Commission of the European Union established some new regulations on food and wines so as to harmonize the "official quality standards". Thus, PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) correspond to the European level to regional labels. In France, the labels have already started to change. The AOP are the European equivalent of AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controlée). AOP will be from now on mentioned on the labels of your French wines.  And the equivalent of Vin De Pays (VDP) wines will now be known as IGPs (Indication Geographique Protegée) or PGIs (Protected Geographical Indication).

6.       Indicates the estate owner

7.       Distribué par - Refers to the distributor

8.     Produit de France - As mentioned nearby it translates as Product of France.

9.      Location of Bottler- Mis en bouteille au chateau/ au domaine - Indicates the location of the wine was bottled at the Chateau or at the estate- The location of the producer or bottler will also appear on this line sometimes.

10.   Bottle Size - The volume of the bottle contents. 750 ml is a standard size bottle and is the equivalent of 25.4 ounces, or about five glasses or wine.

11.   Alcohol by Volume/ Alcohol content - wines designated as “Table Wine” (7 to 14 percent alcohol) are not required to show alcohol content.  Otherwise, these wines with 7-14 percent state the alcohol content.  For wine that exceeds 14 percent alcohol, the label must reveal that information.