Wine, more than all other drinks, is surrounded by an aura of mystery. You can at least partially unravel its secret if you learn to read the wine label correctly. After all, the label is a passport of the quality of the wine.
After reading the label, you can learn a lot about the wine.
- First of all, it confirms the authenticity of the wine.
- Most of the bottles are equipped with a cork on which the excise stamp is glued. On it you can find out the status and area of the manufacturer, and it also indicates the legality of the distribution of this product.
- Exposure is very clearly indicated on the label.
- The grape variety from which the wine is made is not always indicated.
- The name of the category of wine (table, white, etc.).
- Manufacturer country. But here you need to be especially careful. On some bottles, instead of the manufacturer, “EU Tafelwein” is indicated, which translates as “table wine from the common market states”. A detailed designation of the manufacturer is a prerequisite for wines intended for export.
- District. You need to pay attention to the following letters on the label: “A. C "," D. O. C. " They indicate where the wine was produced. Such an inscription is allowed to be affixed on labels only to those manufacturers who have complied with a number of requirements.
- Bottling. The company that dispenses the wine is liable on an equal basis with the manufacturer for the contents of the bottles and in case of any violations (for example, pouring the wrong wine into bottles), bears the punishment provided for by law.
- Capacity. It can be indicated in liters, milliliters or centiliters.
- Fortress. It is indicated as a percentage (alcohol content to the amount of liquid,% vol.). The most common alcoholic strength is 11% - 13%, but there are also 6% of wine, and some natural sweet wines have an alcoholic strength of up to 20%. The more alcohol a wine contains, the softer its taste. But, at the same time, wine of too high strength can cause sharp taste sensations.
- Year of issue. Years are prohibited for table wines, but optional for others. The quality of the wine directly depends on the year of production.
- Trademark. Usually just the name of the company is written and there is a ® sign. And on more expensive wines, the name of the enterprise and its location are indicated.
- Enterprise status. Defined by the words: owner, owner of the crop, etc.
Wine labels are strictly regulated by the laws of the country. They are released so that the consumer receives the necessary information about the wine being purchased. You need to read the wine label very carefully in order to protect yourself from buying a low-quality product.
