Enoteca Italiana

The Label

The entire complex system of classifying wines and their denominations is recorded on the wine label. The label plays a fundamental role in consumer choices and gives the consumer important information about the wine and its characteristics. The label must contain clear, complete and verifiable data. The European Union has issued precise standards for labeling so that it is uniform Europe-wide (Regulation 2392 issued in 1989 on the designation and presentation of wines and Regulation 3201 issued in 1990 containing standards for label application). The label must carry a set of compulsory data making it possible to identify the product and provide the consumer with some essential information. Other supplementary data may be provided on the label to better illustrate the characteristics and quality of the wine itself, but must respect specific local or national standards. The label must state the sales denomination of the product (for example, Table Wine, IGT, and the like); the name or brand and premises of the bottler; and the effective alcohol content and nominal volume of the wine. Supplementary data serves to better describe the qualitative merits of the wine: for table wines, suggested food accompaniments (e.g. wine especially appropriate with seafood); for IGT wines, as well as the statements foreseen for generic table wines, also a reference to the geographical zone, the grape varieties and the year the grapes were picked; for DOC wines, additional reference to the subzone or even the vineyard the grapes come from, bottle number and the like.