Directory Image
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Wine Online- Shopping, History and Labels -All by Your Taste!

Author: Toni Adams
by Toni Adams
Posted: Aug 05, 2014

Wine has a very rich history, the first eveidence of grape fermentation is from 6000 years BC old and is thought to that originates from the borders of Georgia and Iran. In Europe was prepared for the first time about 45 centuries BC ago in the Balkans and was very common in Rome, Thrace and ancient Greece. Wine also deserves an important role throughout the history. The Greek god Dionysus and the Roman god Bacchus symbolize wine; also it is used in the Christian, catholic and Jewish ceremonies. The word wine has originated from an old Germanic word winam which means grape.

Wine is the perfect drink for a many occasions, from dinner to special gatherings to romantic settings, even to backyard bbq. Undeniably, wine is the world's most commonly consumed alcoholic beverages. A drink made from aged grapes, which comes in a variety of tastes, colours based on the type of grape used in its creation, and vintage assortments based on the mixture of types of grapes. What makes wine different from other beverages is the fermentation process and its importance. Many wine tasters are fascinated by the wine making process and the length of time, conditions and resources required making quality wine.

Where you should shop for a quality wine?

The wine stores and wine stored.

With entering a wine shop observe the general aesthetics of the store. Are the bottles and shelfs well-organized, and neat or is the shop dusty and in disarray? Are the bottles exposed to excessive heat, high-low temperature variations, and bright light which may cause weakening of the taste and quality of the wine? A sign of a quality wine shop is when a store carries more than one vintage of a particular wine assortment. This would indicate the shop manager is interested in the depth of their wine assortment offerings as well as the breadth.

If you live in a country where alcohol sales are controlled or restricted, your options may be limited, to and only on online shopping from trusted sites. When ordering online everything is easy. You know that the site is trying to sell the most wines and will try to comply with the quality policy of the wine, or will get very bad feedback form the buyers which can lead to shutting down the business. To be hones nobody wants bad publicity. This is why everything is easier when shopping online, easy access to all of the reviews and easy ordering. This will be your guide how to recognise the right wine and read the wine label.

The label...

There are obligatory rules on which information must be included on a particular wine label. These rules vary from country to country and are based on where the wine is produced. This can mean that one wine can have several different labels in various countries. Not only the label content but also the label shape colours and logos used on it must be approved by various state regulatory agencies.

Trademark - brand name

The owner's name, trademark name or the winery title must be on first place on the wine label, next the growing area of the grapes, or the grape variety. The brand name must not be misrepresentative as to the quality, origin, age, or grape varietal. In most of the world countries which produce wines, some wines cannot be categorised as certain varietal unless if the wine contains at least 75% of the specific varietal.

Name and address of the producer and country of origin - This information is required on all wines and the words "bottled by" must immediately precede the name and address of the bottler. The term "produced and bottled by" may be used if the bottler also made no less than 75% of the wine by fermenting and clarifying the wine. "Made and bottled by" may be used if the named winery fermented and clarified at least 10%, adding carbonization or making it a sparkling wine by adding a secondary fermentation process. When the words "cellared" or "prepared" are used it means that the named winery cellared, clarified or barrel aged the wine at that location. "Blended and bottled" indicates that the named winery mixed the wine with other of the same type and class at the particular location.

Class of wine, type or designation

The wine is labelled with the class number or with a description alike to those described below:

Class 1 - "Light Wine", "Light White Wine", "(Red) Table Wine", "Sweet Table Wine", the wine must have alcohol between 7% and 14% by volume.

Class 2 - "Sparkling Wine" or similar. This class has been made sparkling by a natural method only.

Class 3 - "Carbonated Wine" - carbon dioxide injected into it.

Class 4 - "Citrus Wine" - produced primarily with citrus fruit.

Class 5 - "Fruit Wine" - produced primarily from fruits other than grapes or citrus.

Class 6 - Wine that has been made from agricultural products (vegetables- grown, handled and processed in accordance with agricultural national standards)

Class 7 - "Aperitif Wine" - has alcohol content, less than 15% by volume; the grape wine has been compounded with added brandy, alcohol, and flavoured with herbs and natural aromas.

Class 8 - "Imitation Wine" - contains man-made aroma materials.

Class 9 - "Retsina Wine" - a table wine that has been flavoured with resin.

And finally for all of the types Wine Online Australia

Alcohol by volume

The alcohol content must be listed on the label only if it contains more than 14% by volume. For wines with an alcohol content of 14% or greater, a 1% variation is allowed. Wines that have less than 14% alcohol by volume are permitted a 1.5% variation. Wines containing less than 14% alcohol must state it on the label or be labelled by the appropriate class or description such as "light table wine".

About the Author

Wines Online Australia bottled and the US are often more direct in their presentation of the type, producer of wine and the name of the vineyard.

Rate this Article
Leave a Comment
Author Thumbnail
I Agree:
Comment 
Pictures
Author: Toni Adams

Toni Adams

Member since: Aug 04, 2014
Published articles: 8

Related Articles