Shopping for wine can be a real pain. There are so many factors to consider and so many options to choose from! And how do you even know what’s in the bottle? Let’s turn that pain into pleasure by learning how to read a wine label.
Here are a few points I’ll touch on:
1) How to find out what grape(s) the wine is made from:
– For a European wine, you might have to Google search the Appellation
listed on the label. European wine labels often tell you more about the
WHERE than the WHAT.
2) How to tell whether the wine is high quality:
– In general, the more specific the geography you see on the label (single vineyard vs.
region vs. country), the better the quality.
– Find out the reputation of the producer who bottled the wine by asking
your shopkeeper or sommelier, or by checking critic scores and public
reviews.
3) How to tell whether the wine is sweet or dry:
– Sweet wines from Italy may be labeled Aboccato, Amabile, or Dolce.
– Sweet wines from France may be labeled Demi-Sec, Moelleux, or Doux.
– Sweet wines from Germany (in ascending order from least to most
sweet may be labeled Kabinett, Feinherb, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese,
Eiswein, or Trockenbeerenauslese). Dry wines from Germany can be labeled Trocken or
GG.
– When in doubt, look up the Appellation of Origin to find out what styles
are allowed to be made in that region.
4) Pay attention to the alcohol content:
– Wines high in alcohol (14%+) will usually be full-bodied and filling. Wines
with less alcohol tend to be light and refreshing.
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