What Can be Learned from a Wine Label?

When looking for a bottle of wine it's easy to be persuaded by the label.  But, too often, the persuasion comes from a fancy graphic on the label or a cute name.  There is actually a lot of good written information on the label of a wine bottle.  For this time, let's look at wine labels in the United States.

First, the wine type.  Although mandatory, the wine type may or may not be specific to the type of grapes used to produce the wine.  But, the label will tell you if the wine is a varietal (made from a specific grape) or a blend.  If a wine label specifies a varietal, such as a Chardonnay or a Cabernet Sauvignon, it must be produced by using at least 75% of that grape type. Otherwise, wine producers refer to them as a "Blend" or "Table Wine."

Next, the location where the wine is from.  If the wine label refers to a state or county, at least 75% of the grapes used to produce the wine must have come from that location. Except in California, where if the label states "California" then 100% of the grapes must have come from within the state.  Then there are specific appellations or AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) such as 'Napa' or 'Sonoma.'  If a wine label states a specific AVA, then at least 85% of the grapes must have come from that region.

The vintage, or year when the grapes were harvested, is actually optional on US wine labels.  If a year is stated, then at least 85% of the wine must come from the harvest date shown.  But, if the wine is labeled with a specific AVA, then 95% of the grapes must come from the stated harvest date. The date on a wine label has nothing to do with when it was bottled or released, it simply refers to when the grapes were picked.

Then there are the 'special designations' on a bottle of wine. Words such as "Reserve" or "Private Reserve" may appear on the label, but there is no regulation on these terms in the US.  So, while a winemaker may use the term, it may or may not be anything more than a marketing tool.  But, if you do find that a winemaker produces a particular wine, say a Merlot,  and then produces a Merlot with a "Reserve" designation on the label, it generally means that it is higher quality or finer wine.

Estate wines are those where the wine is labeled "Estate Bottled." This means that the winery grew 100% of the grapes on its owned land, and the winery did all the wine making process (crushing, fermenting and bottling) on the same land.

Alcohol content is required by law to appear on the label.  And, a lot can be determined from this number. Generally, low alcohol content wines (10% or less) are going to be sweeter and higher alcohol content wines (12-14%) are going to be dryer.  So if you have a preference in the amount of sweetness in your wines, pay particular attention to this number.

Then sulfites. If wines contain sulfites, it must be stated on the label.  And generally, all wines are going to have sulfites because it's a preservative.  But, it is used in extremely low levels (approximately 50 parts per million). So, these level are usually undetectable or will go away with brief decanting. 

There's a quick overview of the technical terms on a wine label.  In future articles we'll dive into more specifics in each of these areas.  So get out there, read a few labels with this new found information, pick out a bottle of wine with either a fancy label or one from a great AVA such as Alexander Valley, and enjoy it. Cheers!

Taking a Bottle of Wine to a Party

Oh boy!  You've been invited to a party and asked to take a bottle of wine.  Now what?  You don't think you know a thing about wine but are expected to show up and not embarrass yourself.  Well, fear not!  

There are several things to consider. First, who will be attending the party. If this is an invite to the bosses house for dinner, that's one thing. If it's a after-work happy hour, a beach party or picnic, that's another.  The primary thing to consider is who you are buying the wine for. 

So, let's start from the easiest position to be in.  If you are invited to an after work happy hour, a beach party or picnic with a big group, don't fret.  Just about any bottle will do.  The point will be to enjoy some food and wine and have a good time.  Show up with a chilled bottle of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon  Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, a Rosé or White Zinfandel and your bottle should be a hit.  

Next, if you are invited to someone's house for a big party, whether it be an open house or a birthday party, again it's hard to go wrong.  The big group will just be looking for a bottle that can be opened and enjoyed while socializing at the party.  Along with the previously mentioned white wines and rosés, you might venture into the reds wines and consider some popular Red Blends, Zinfandel, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. Inexpensive versions of these can easily be found in the $10 range. And, like the beach party or picnic, it will be easy to introduce your wine with little threat.

Next comes the smaller couples party where you are to take a bottle of wine. Now your wine will be noticed. If you know the hosts well, ask what type of wine they'd like for you to bring.  They know what food they are going to be serving and should give you some direction on a white versus a red.  Otherwise, show up with a nice bottle of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Merlot in the $15 price range.

A harder situation is when the boss invites you over for dinner or you are in a social situation where you are trying to make a strong positive impression.  Even if you weren't asked to bring a bottle of wine, you should show up with one.  If you are trying to impress, plan on shopping by price and find a nice bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, or Zinfandel) in the $20 price range.  Yes, that may be a bit pricey compared to what you would usually spend, but you want to impress.  And, spending a few extra dollars will be well worth it.

Finally, if you've been invited to someone's house where you know they are big wine lovers, you want to be looking at the upper shelves at the 'nice' wines.  If you can go $20 to $40, do so.  And focus on the red wines. A nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah or a fine red blend should impress. 

Oh, and whether it's a picnic party or a small gathering, be sure to look around at what other wines show up.  It will give you a better sense for next time. And, you just might want to drop off your bottle and try someone else's wine that you've never tried before.  

So, boldly go out there, pick up a bottle of wine to share and, most of all, don't worry. Your wine will be appreciated and rapidly consumed.  Cheers!

When to Not Decant a Wine

As discussed last time, decanting a wine can make a real difference. Decanting allows for some quick evaporation and exposes the wine to oxygen. Both improve the flavor of the wine, usually in just a few minutes or up to a couple of hours.

But I recently opened a bottle of red wine, poured a small taste in a big wine glass, gave it a few swirls and tasted it. I then went ahead and began serving it right out of the bottle.  The questing came up "Why aren't you decanting that wine?"  

Well, upon my first taste of the wine, I immediately knew the wine didn't need to go into a decanter.  It was velvety smooth, had soft fruit flavors and a wonderful finish. There were no strong odors, no sharp flavors and no bitterness right out of the bottle. It was as good or better than many wines are after spending time in a decanter.  

Going back a couple of weeks, the topic here was swirling wine in a glass. Some wines can immediately be 'decanted' by just pouring them into a glass and giving it a few swirls.  In the case of my recently opened bottle, all it needed was that minute in the glass.

I experienced another example of not decanting during a recent visit to a tasting room. While enjoying tasting some great red wines, the server suggested that I might like to try another of their wines that was not on the standard tasting list. She searched around, found the bottle, opened it and pour a small amount in a couple of glasses, tasting one herself. She then set the two glasses aside and had me continue trying a couple more of their 'standard' wines. In the meantime, she gave the other glasses of 'special' wine a few more big swirls and retried her glass. With a nod of her head, she pronounced that it was ready.  Upon serving it to me, she explained that right out of the bottle, it had a bit of sharpness that she claimed went away with just a couple of minutes in the glass.

Another reason for not decanting is when you are dealing with older bottles of wines.  Wines that are 15 or more years old probably don't need decanting.  These wines, if they were properly stored, will have already mellowed during the time spent in the bottle. Exposure to too much air can actually make an older, delicate wine go 'flat' or 'flabby,' loosing its delicate flavors.

So, would my recent bottle of wine gotten better had I decanted it for thirty minutes to an hour?  Hmm?  I guess I'll never know.  But, I do know that it was amazing right from the bottle.  The bottom line is that you shouldn't just automatically send all wines to the decanter.  Pour yourself a quick taste from the bottle and then decide if it's already great, or if it could use a bit of time mellowing in a decanter.  Cheers!

Why Decant Wine?

Seeing a wine steward decanting a bottle of wine in a restaurant can look 'showy' or a bit pretentious.  And a wine decanter can be a beautiful thing to display, with or without wine in it. So why decant a wine?

The simple answer is that decanting a wine allows it to 'breath' much like the previous discussion on swirling a wine glass.  By pouring a bottle of wine into a decanter (or any glass vessel), the wine gets an opportunity to quickly release any volatile compounds that have built up in the bottle and  get exposed to air. And this really can make a difference in wine.

If you haven't tried decanting its well worth it.  Immediately after opening a bottle of wine (particularly a red wine), pour yourself a small taste in a glass so that you experience the wine right out of the bottle.  And most good wines will be fine right out of the bottle. But then give the wine in the decanter thirty minutes to an hour before going back and trying it again.  Most often, you will find that the wine has smoothed out and is a bit softer, not quite so sharp as that initial taste from the bottle. And, you are more likely to detect some of the subtile flavors in the wine.

Decanting is particularly effective with young red wines. Exposure to air in a decanter for one to two hours can make a significant improvement. But, with an older bottle, decanting my not be necessary at all, and it can even degrade some of the delicate nuances of a fine wine. 

Decanting was especially effective after recently opening a rather young bottle of red wine.  After the first taste right out of the bottle, I immediately said 'no' this isn't a very good bottle of wine.  So, I poured it in a decanter and left it for a couple of hours.  Upon returning to the almost forgotten decanter, I poured another small glass and noticed a significant improvement. Gone was the sharp bitter and highly tannic (dry) taste.  The wine had calmed down, smoothed out and was then quite enjoyable with a meal.

Another item to consider along with a wine decanter is a small wire-mesh filter designed specifically to be used for wine. These can be very effective in removing any sediment that might have remained with the wine in the bottle. Just pour the bottle of wine through the filter as you decant it.

One of my favorite lines about wine also applies to decanting.  It's said that a wine cellar is not a wine hospital; it won't make a bad wine better.  So too, decanting will not magically turn a bad bottle of wine into a good one.  But, you may be surprized how decanting can make a nice wine even better.

So, if you don't have a fancy wine decanter, don't worry. Any wide glass vessel that will give the wine exposure to air will work. Just don't choose a plastic or metal vessel that can impart other flavors into the wine.  And, don't decant too long.  A wine can go flat and loose much of its flavors if left exposed to air for too long.  Just try a sip right out of the bottle to establish a starting point, then decant and periodically re-visit it.  You should notice an improvement. Cheers! 

Why Do People Swirl Their Wine Glass?

Ever wonder why people swirl their glass of wine?  Is this just something that wine snobs do? Or is it a kind of nervous habit?  Are they doing it so they can examine the 'legs' of the wine?  Or, are they doing it just to look cool? What's the point?

Well, there are two basic reasons to swirl a glass of wine; aeration and aromas.

First, aeration.  This is simply adding air to the wine.  This seem odd at first. Why does wine need air? After all, it's been intentionally stored in an air-tight bottle for some time. Well, with most red wines (typically the younger wines), adding air helps improve the flavor of the wine. Some of the improvement is due to the fact that evaporation occurs when you swirl which releases some of the stronger, less appealing compounds in the wine. But, overall, swirling allows the wine to get exposure to air which helps improve the flavor.  The act of swirling the wine in the glass allows the wine to coat the inside of the glass, giving the wine more surface area and hence, more exposure to air.

Second, while you are swirling the wine and coating the inside of the glass, you are filling your glass with the wine's aromas - all those wonderful scents associated with the particular wine.  This allows you to sniff the wine and to fully enjoy the wine experience on your tongue and in your nose.  Both of which are very important to enjoying any flavorful food or drink.

But you don't want to swirl all wines.  Sparkling wines (or 'Champagne') should not be swirled. This will quickly release all those wonderful bubbles and lead to a less-sparkling experience.  

As to swirling a glass of wine to examine its legs (those tear drops that slide down the inside of a wine glass), it may be fun to watch, but it really doesn't tell you anything about the quality of the wine, just that it has alcohol in it.

So, go ahead and carefully swirl your wine.  Yes, it may look cool, but it is actually helping the wine and improving your experience of the wine.  Cheers!