Label Reading Flashcards
T/F
A New World wine label requires:
A brand name
True
T/F
A New World wine label requires:
The class or type of wine
True
T/F
A New World wine label requires:
The name and address of the bottler
True
T/F
A New World wine label requires:
The alcohol content of the wine
True
T/F
A New World wine label requires:
A sulfite statement
True
T/F
A New World wine label requires:
A health warning
True
T/F
A New World wine label requires:
The net content of the bottle
True
What are the two types of generic wine allowed under American law?
Vermouth and Sake
T/F
Producers of vermouth do not have to indicate the geographical source of their grapes
True
T/F
Producers of sake do not have to indicate the geographical source of their rice
True
After _____ , many US producers attracted market interest by naming their wines after well-known European appellations
Prohibition
The ___ juggles long time domestic usage with pressure from European wine interests in deciding which wine descriptions it will permit
TTB
T/F
A fully generic term may not be used in any form on an American wine label
True
A semi-generic term must be used in conjunction with __ _________ _____ ____
An American place name
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Rioja
Fully
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Beaujolais
Fully
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Bordeaux
Fully
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Port
Semi
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Sherry
Semi
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Marsala
Semi
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Sauterne
Semi
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Tokay
Semi
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Chianti
Semi
Fully- or Semi- Generic?
Chablis
Semi
Can a wine labeled “California Sherry” be exported to Europe?
No
Can an American sparkling wine that wishes to avoid “semi-generic” status use the word “Champagne” on its label?
No
Can an American sparkling wine that wishes to avoid “semi-generic” status use the words “méthode champanoise” on its label?
No
Can an American sparkling wine that wishes to avoid “semi-generic” status use the words “naturally fermented in this bottle” on the label?
Yes
Can an American sparkling wine that wishes to avoid “semi-generic” status use words like “Brut” or “Extra Dry” on the label?
Yes
T/F
All US wines must show some indication of the type of wine they contain
True
If a US wine is varietally labeled, the wine must contain at least ____% of grapes from that variety
75%
If an Oregon wine is varietally labeled, the wine must contain at least ____% of grapes from that variety
90%
If an EU wine is varietally labeled, the wine must contain at least ____% of grapes from that variety
85%
Will the EU allow US varietally labeled wines to be imported?
Yes
If a wine made from Native American Grapes is varietally labeled, the wine must contain at least ____% of grapes from that variety
51%
T/F
In the case where no one grape variety makes up 75% or more of the wine, a varietal label is permitted only if all the blended varieties are named, with their percentages
True
T/F
In the US, there is no requirement that a wine labeled as a varietal indicate the other grapes that have been used to fill in the other 25% (or less)
True
T/F
A US producer may indicate the full blending proportions on the back label if they choose
True
_____ wines are those protected by trademark
Proprietary
American or European?
Stress the importance of terroir
European
American or European?
Belief that great wine is made in the winery, using the best grapes, no matter where they are grown
American
In 1978, the first American ____ were established
AVAs
What does TTB stand for?
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Who approves new American AVAs?
TTB
Should an AVA be able to be precisely defined on a US Geological Survey map?
Yes
Should an AVA use a name that has been commonly or historically associated with the area?
Yes
Should an AVA have climate, soil, aspect, elevation, and other geological features that make it distinct from surrounding wine producing areas?
Yes
Where was the first AVA awarded?
Augusta, Missouri (June 20, 1980)
What is the second AVA to be named?
Napa Valley, CA
Is a vintage date optional on an American wine label?
Yes
What is the caveat if a vintage date is included on a wine label?
The place indicator must be more specific than a country
If an AVA or equivalent foreign appellation is named with a vintage date, _____% of the grapes are required to be from that year
95%
If the wine is not an AVA (or foreign equivalent), what is the threshold amount for vintage labeling?
85%
Is Bottling Date required on an American wine label?
No
US: A wine labeled with a country name must contain at least _____% content from that country
75%
A _____ on a wine label may be a winery, a wine merchant, an importer, or even a retailer that has contracted for the wine to be produced under its own label
Bottler
New World: “_____ _____” on a label means 75% of grapes were crushed by the producer indicated
Produced By
New World: “_____ _____” may be indicated if at least 10% of the fruit is crushed by the listed name
Made By
New World: “_____ _____” is an alternative name allowed if less than 10% of the grapes are crushed by the name listed (3 options)
Cellared By
Selected By
Vinted By
New World: “_____ , _____ , and _____ by” indicates that the winery grew 100% of the grapes on land it owned and controlled (for a three-year minimum lease), crushed them, made, finished, and bottled the wine, under a specific AVA indication
Grown, Produced, and Cellared By
New World: “_____ _____” wines must come from a vineyard or vineyards owned or leased (for at least three years) by a winery, within a single AVA, in which the winery itself is located, on a 100% basis
Estate bottled
In the American system, why is the 14% alcohol level important?
Tax reasons
In the American system, wines with an alcohol level under 14% are considered “ _____ _____” and taxed at a lower rate
Table wines
In the American system, wines with an alcohol level above 14% are considered “ _____ _____” (no matter how sweet) and taxed at a higher rate
Dessert wines
In the US, what the minimum alcohol level to be called “wine”?
7%
If an alcohol percentage is indicated, how much variation does the TTB allow?
1.5%
Under the American system, do you need to put the percentage of alcohol if your wine is under 14%?
No
Under the American system, do you need to put the percentage of alcohol if your wine is over 14%?
Yes
If a US wine is under 14% alcohol and does not state the exact alcohol percentage, what can the label read instead?
Table wine
If a wine is over 14% alcohol in the US, how much variation in alcohol percentage is allowed from the one stated?
1%
The law requires that any wine containing more than _____ parts per million of sulfur dioxide must indicate on the label that it “Contains Sulfites”
10
Why do most organic certification bodies still permit the use of sulfites?
Producing a wine that will not rapidly spoil without adding sulfites is nearly impossible
What are the two Health Warnings that must be displayed on a US wine label?
- Drinking when pregnant increases the risk of birth defects
- Alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery and may cause health problems
Can Health Claims as to the benefits wine be made on a label in the US?
No
In every state except 1, the term _____ has no legal significance
Reserve
In which state does the term “Reserve” have a legal meaning?
Washington State
Are terms like “Dry” and “Sweet” legally defined in the US?
No
Is the term “Old Vines” regulated in the US?
No
Is the term “Special Selection” regulated in the US?
No
Is the TTB strict about label artwork or content that it might consider to be misleading or indecent?
Yes
US:
This is usually the most prominent item on a label. For premium wines, this is usually the name of the producing winery.
Brand Name
US:
This includes fruit wine, rice wine, mead, sparkling grape juice, and still wine (which can be generic, semi-generic, or varietal)
Class or Type of Wine
US:
This includes fruit wine, rice wine, mead, sparkling grape juice, and still wine (which can be generic, semi-generic, or varietal)
Class or Type of Wine
US:
This typically appears in small print at the bottom of the label
Name and Address of Bottler
US:
This is given in percent by volume and can be found lurking near the bottom of the label in small print
Alcohol content
US:
Wines containing more than 10 parts per million of sulfur dioxide - which means nearly all wine - must carry a _____ _____ such as “Contains Sulfites”
Sulfite Statement
US:
All alcoholic beverages sold in the US must have a _____ warning on the label
Health
US:
This is the volume of wine in the bottle
Net Content of Bottle
This must appear on all foreign wines sold in the US: _____ __ and ___ __ ___ _________
Imported By and Name of the Importer
US:
If a varietal or semi-generic wine type designation is used, then the _____ __ ______ must be listed on the label
Appellation of Origin
US:
If a _____ _____ appears on a label, 95% of the wine within must have been harvested and crushed the year named
Vintage Date
US:
If a _____ _____ is used, 95% of the grapes must have been grown there
Vineyard Name
US:
To use this term, the wine must have an AVA appellation
Estate Bottled
US:
To use the term “Estate Bottled” the winery must be located _____ __ _____
In the AVA that it lists
US:
To use the term “Estate Bottled” the winery have grown _____% of the grapes used on land owned or controlled by the winery within the appellation
100
US:
To use the term “Estate Bottled” the winery must have _____ the grapes, _____ the resulting must, and _____ , _____ , and _____ the wine in a continuous process
Crushed
Fermented
Finished
Aged
Bottled
US:
This may appear in front of the bottler’s name and address if the winery meets all the conditions for “estate bottled” but is not located in the AVA
Grown, Produced, and Bottled by
US:
The significance of terms like “ Old Vines”, “Reserve”, and “Special Selection” depends entirely on
The winery using them
US:
75% of the fruit was crushed by the name listed on the label
Produced by
US:
10% of the fruit was crushed by the name listed on the label
Made by
US:
Less than 10% of the fruit was crushed by the name listed on the label (3 answers)
Cellared by, Selected by, Vinted by
Every major wine producing country in Europe is a member of:
The EU (European Union)
Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region is the former term for what is now labeled as:
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Table wine with a geographical indication will be labeled as (EU):
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
Table wine without a geographical indication (EU):
Wine
Who determines which regions qualify for PDO
The individual countries
EU: When the name of a place is mentioned on a label, _____% of the wine must be from that place
100%
EU: For stated vintage dates, _____% of the wine must conform to that vintage
85%
EU: If the label lists one grape variety, _____% of the wine must be made from that variety
85%
Is listing a variety on a label permitted in the EU?
Yes
EU: If two or three grapes are mentioned on a label, _____% of the wine must derive from those grapes
100%
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vin de Table
France, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vin de France
France, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vin de Pays
France, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Indication Géographique Protégée
France, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC)
France, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP)
France, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vino da Tavola
Italy, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vino
Italy and/or Spain, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)
Italy, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP)
Italy, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
Italy, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
Italy, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP)
Italy, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vino de Mesa
Spain, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vino de La Tierra
Spain, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP)
Spain, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominación de Origen (DO)
Spain, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
Spain, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP)
Spain, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vinho de Mesa
Portugal, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vinho
Portugal, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Vinho Regional
Portugal, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Indicação Geográfica Protegida (IGP)
Portugal, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC)
Portugal, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Denominação de Origem Protegida
Portugal, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Deutscher Wein
Germany, Wine
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Deutscher Landwein Geschützte Geografische Angabe
Germany, PGI
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Qualitatswein Bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA)
Germany, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Qualitatswein mit Pradikat (QmP)
Germany, PDO
Name the country and level of wine (Wine, PGI, PDO):
Geschützte Ursprungbezerichnung
Germany, PDO
There are more than _____ AOCs in France
300
The vin de table category accounts for about _____% of all French wines
15%
The vin de pays category accounts for over a _____ of all French wines
Quarter
A winemaking property in Bordeaux is referred to as a:
Château
In Bordeaux, the name of the château itself is an important indicator of _____
Quality
What happened in Bordeaux in 1954
A classification of the chateaux of the Saint-Émilion AOC
In Bordeaux, wine that contains an additional percentage of alcohol may be labeled:
Supérieur
“Great Classified Growths”
Grand Cru Classé
“First Great Classified Growth”
Premier Grand Cru Classé
There are _____ Grand Cru Classé in Saint-Émilion
57
There are _____ Premier Grand Cru Classé in Saint-Émilion
15
Of the 15 Premier Grand Cru Classé in Saint-Émilion, 2 are further classified as category A.
What are they called?
Château Pavie & Château Figeac
You can find Cru Classé in which AOC?
Graves
How many chateaux are in Graves Cru Classé?
16
What happened in 1855 in Bordeaux?
The original classification
A number of quality-minded smaller châteaux from the Médoc AOC banded together to form a marketing consortium known as:
Cru Bourgeois
What’s more important in Burgundy, the producer or the vineyard?
The vineyard
This French AOC is the only one to officially allow the name of the varietal on the label
Alsace AOC
In Alsace, what does “Edelzwicker” indicate on a label?
A “noble mixture”; a blend of 2 or more varieties
In Alsace, what does Grand Cru indicate on a label
A 100% varietal wine from one of the best sites in Alsace
In Alsace, what does “Selection de Grains Nobles” indicate on a label?
A selection of noble grapes that are harvested late and affected by noble rot
When did the Super Tuscans appear in Italy?
1970’s
What year did Italy create the IGT where Super Tuscans have found a home?
1992
In 1996, in Italy, it became illegal for Vini da Tavola to indicate _____ , _____ , or _____
Geographic origin, variety, vintage
Can IGT wines be varietally labeled in Italy?
Yes
In Germany, must weight is measured in what unit?
Degrees Oeschsle
The lowest 2 levels of German wine (Deutscher Wein & Deutscher Landwein) only make up about _____% of production and are rarely seen outside of Germany
5%
Which is a higher category: QBA or QmP?
QmP
Which quality tier translates as “quality wine from a delimited production area”
QBA
Which quality tier translates as “quality wine with special attributes”?
QmP
In Germany, quality levels are primarily based on _____ _____ rather than on _____
Must Weight, Geography
Is chapitalization allowed on a Prädikat wine?
No
The 6 Prädikat levels reflect must weight _____ ______ , NOT the _____ sugar level of the finished wine
Before fermentation, ultimate
Name the Prädikat levels from least-ripe at time of harvest to most-ripe
- Kabinett
- Spätlese
- Auslese
- Beerenauslese
- Eiswein
- Trockenbeerenauslese
What does Trocken mean on a German label?
Dry
What does Classic mean on a German label?
Dry
What does Selection mean on a German label?
Dry
What does Halbtrocken mean on a German label?
Off-Dry
What does Feinherb mean on a German label?
Off-Dry
What does Keller mean on a German label?
Cellar
What does Winzer mean on a German label?
Grape Grower
What does Rotwein mean on a German label?
Red Wine
