Wine Labels Explained
Author: Darlene Berkel

You may remember the old adage 'you can't judge a book by its
cover', but is the same true about a bottle of wine?  Can you
judge wine by its label?

What Do The Labels Mean?

There is a lot of information in the label of a bottle of wine,
and if you aren't a connoisseur of wine it can be a little
overwhelming at first glance.  The majority of wine labels are
quite similar though, containing information on the winery where
the wine was made, the 'appellation' (the country or region
where the grapes that went into the wine were grown), the
variety (the type of grapes the wine was made from) and the
vintage (the year when the grapes were harvested).  The strength
/ alcohol content of the wine is also displayed on the label.

Some extra information may appear depending on the country in
which the wine was bottled.  As an example, wines bottled in the
USA are required to have the name and address of the bottler
displayed on the label, along with certain consumer warnings.
There are also sometimes some details on the ripeness of the
grapes, and information about the winery that produced the wine.


What Else Appears on Wine Labels?

What once was just used to mark what was in the bottle, wine
labels have become a spot to showcase artwork and make for a
unique collection for a wine lover. While they may seem like an
odd collection, the artwork on wine labels can be extremely
beautiful, and a label may remind you of a special trip or an
important event where you enjoyed the wine. And wine labels are
certainly easier to save and display than empty bottles!
Collecting wine labels has become so popular that manufacturers
have even developed special cases to display them, and wine
labels actually have their own category on eBay! Avid collectors
often have their own websites or blogs devoted to sharing their
collection with others.

Can I Customize a Label For A Special Occasion?

If you are planning a special celebration – perhaps a wedding,
anniversary celebration, or even just a really fancy company
party, then you could take advantage of companies that allow you
to turn a piece of your own artwork into a wine label. You could
put pretty much anything you wanted on the label – a photograph
of the couple getting married, your company logo, or some other
design of significance to the recipient.  After the wine has
been drank, it is likely the bottle will remain displayed in
pride of place for a long time to come!


About The Author: Looking for a fun way to learn more about
wines?  Take a wine tour! Visit
http://tours.every1loves2travel.com and find out great wine
tours around the globe.