How to Read a Wine Label

Required and voluntary information on California wine labels explains much about what will be in the bottle.

Sample of a label:

Block Vineyards <- 1
1996
CALIFORNIA <- 3

Chardonnay <- 2
Barrel-Fermented

PRODUCED AND BOTTLED BY <- 4
BLOCK VINEYARD WINE VALLEY, CA <- 5
ALCOHOL 12% BY VOLUME

    Required Information

  1. Brand. The surest key to the style of the wine.
  2. Type of wine. May be generic, proprietary , or varietal. The first two may use any grape variety or blend of varieties the producer desires. Varietal wines must be made 75% of the grape variety named.
  3. Region of origin. To say "California", 100% of the grapes used must be grown within the state. To use a county name, 75% must be grown within the county. To use an AVA name (a federally approved viticultural area), 85% of the grapes must be grown within that area. If the wine is a varietal, the 75% minimum of the named variety must be grown within the AVA.
  4. Bottler. The label must show a company name (not always identical with the brand name) and a business location.
  5. Alcohol content. The legal limits for table wine are 7% to 13.9%, with a 1.5% allowance either way so long as the allowance does not go beyond the legal limits. "Table wine" or "Light wine" may appear instead. If the alcohol content of a table wine exceeds 14%, the label must show that. Sparkling wines may be 10 to 13.9% with the 1.5% allowance. For appetizer wines, the limits are 17 to 20%, for dessert types 18 to 20 %, with a 1% allowance in each case.

Source: Wine Institute