Updated on Sunday, July 20, 2008 11:11 PM
Typical Bordeaux Wine Label
How to read a French Wine Label
The label of a bottle of wine is strictly controlled by the government to guarantee a wine's origin and vintage, or in other words, its flavor and quality.
 | Chateau bottled, not from a cooperative, "MIS EN BOUTEILLE AU CHATEAU". |
| The name of the property (or the producer) which is usually a Chateau, a Domain, a Clos, or like this one "Chateau Cos D'Estqournel". |
| A regional grading such as "Grand Cru Classe EN" or Premier Cru Classe which denotes the best wines. |
| The name of the wine region such as Bordeaux, burgundy, Côtes du Rhone, this one being "Saint-Estephe". It can be even more specific and give the name of a strictly defined area such as Médoc or Margaux in the Bordeaux region: the more specific, the better the wine is. |
| The vintage of the wine "1983", which is the year the grapes have been harvested. |
Back to top