42 Looking at Labels
What to look for and what it all means by Lisa Stanton
Domaine des Sangliers is an independent, organic vineyard located in the hills of picturesque Puy-l’Eveque, one of the best terroirs of the Lot valley. We produce AOC, Vin de Pays du Lot and Vin de Table wines. Family run, we personally undertake every step of the wine making process, from pruning to corking, all on the estate. Our aim is to achieve the highest quality product, naturally and ethically produced, at fair prices. For further information please visit
www.domaine-des-
sangliers.com
The label on a bottle of wine serves a variety of functions; it gives you all the information that is legally required for the product, it tells the consumer what the producer wants them to know about their wine and it is quite probably what persuaded you to buy the bottle in the first place!
The Practical Stuff
As it is very likely to be the first point of contact with the customer, most wine makers think very carefully about what they want their label to say (there are still a few who dismiss labelling, “it’s what’s in the bottle that counts, not what’s on the label”, but of course the very function of a label is to get the consumer to try the contents in the first place!).
Designing and creating a label from scratch can be a long, complicated process – creating a name, locating art work, choosing format, colours, wording and fonts; scrutiny from marketing teams, consumer groups and legal departments and finally choosing paper and finishes at the printers. Equally, it could be something whipped up in five minutes, with some clip art and a colour printer. Some of the greatest labels have been produced after a five minute brainstorming session, revolving around a moment of genius, others have taken years to perfect. Some wineries keep the same tried and tested label, whilst others change every year. There may be just a front label; others add a back label too.
Generally, labels are produced on a roll and applied by machine. Many producers have their own equipment on the premises. It is impractical to store a large quantity of labelled bottles, as they are highly susceptible to deterioration. Smaller independents usually carry the minimum amount of ticketed bottles, with each large order being labelled as they are prepared for dispatch.
The Legal Requirements
Legal requirements vary from country to country and are usually subject to specific font size and placement regulations. The bottler’s name must appear, as well as the country of origin. It must state if sulphites are contained, the alcohol content by volume, a warning for pregnant women, the liquid quantity and a lot number for trace-ability.
Additional Information
The AOC or other classification of the wine is usually the most prominent part of the label (this is subject
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