Ever Wonder? What Do these Terms Mean on a Wine Label?

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• "Estate Bottled" or "Grown, Produced and Bottled by": These terms mean:

  (1) 100% of the grapes were grown on a winery's own vineyards

  (2) The grapes all come from within a single AVA

  (3) The wine was made by the winery on its own estate within the given AVA.

  Basically, every aspect of producing the wine happened at the named winery. Estate Bottled wines generally are of higher quality and therefore a bit more pricey.

• "Produced and Bottled by": The phrase “Produced and Bottled by” means that only 75% of the grapes were fermented by the winery itself. The other 25% is uncertain. So, basically, this means that the winery has purchased grapes and then makes the wine themselves.

• "Vinted and Bottled by": This means the wine was produced by someone else, but the winery selling it did do something such as blend the wine or age it.

• "Cellared and Bottled by": This means the wine was made by someone else.

• Single vineyard wine: A wine in which 95% of the grapes must be from the named vineyard.

A lot of information on a wine label is actually just marketing. But, at least you can trust these terms. Cheers!

Ever Wonder? What does "Estate" Mean on a Wine Label?

There are lots of confusing terms used in the wine world and the term “Estate” is one of those.

Generally, when you see the word “Estate” on a wine label it means that the winery oversees all of the farming of the grapes. The winery may or may not own the land, but the farming is done by them.

But, “Estate bottled” wines must be produced from grapes that are farmed, fermented, aged and bottled on the winery’s property - they do everything associated with the wine in the bottle. That provides the winery with complete control of their final product.

So, keep an eye out for “Estate Bottled” wines. They are a bit more special. Cheers!

What Does "Estate Bottled" Mean on a Wine Label?

Last time we looked at the term "Vinted by" that may appear on a wine label indicating that somebody else grew the grapes and/or produced the wine. The sellers simply put their name on it.

A step up is the situation where the winery and the winery's own vineyards are not in the same viticultural area. Here, the winery may designate that the wine has been "Proprietor Grown" on the label.

In the best of all cases, that is becoming rarer, is when a bottle's label identifies that it is "Estate Bottled."  This means the winery produced 100% of the grapes used to make the wine, and the grapes were pressed, fermented, aged and bottled in the viticultural area stated on the label.

When looking for “Estate Bottled” wines from France, look for "Mis en Bouteille au Château," "Mis en Bouteille au domaine" or "Mis en Bouteille a la Propriete."  In Italy, it's bottigliato all’origine, while in Spain it's "Embotellat a la Propietat" and in Germany look for "Erzeugerabfüllung."

Estate Bottled wines generally are of higher quality and therefore a bit more pricey. But, while a lot of information on a wine label is actually marketing, you can trust that an Estate Bottled wine has been entirely made the label's winery. Cheers!