How to find out the contents of a bottle of wine?

Of course, by opening it and tasting it!

However, to minimize surprises, it is good to know how to read the label on the bottle.

Historically, the label appeared in 1820, presented by Maison Chanoine. It has evolved over time, and today it provides us with a number of useful information to help us make the right choice.

Info indicating the category (wine), the denomination (AOC Douro), the name of the domain (Grambeira winery), the owner (Frederico Meireles & familia), the origin (product of Portugal), the name of the wine (Grambeira Grande Reserva) ), the vintage (2015), the alcohol volume (15%), volume (750 ml) and often an illustration of the château or the estate.

The color of the bottle can say a lot about what’s in it

The color of the bottle gives us an indication of the style of white wines; the green bottle often contains dry wines while the transparent glass bottle highlights the beautiful golden color among other sweet wines.

The vintage says a lot about the wine. It is the result of the weather conditions of that specific year. These conditions will give the style, maturity, longevity and degree of alcohol of the wine.

The label, where you will find information about the wine you are about to drink.

On the back label, you will find various information that may influence your choice :

Grape varieties ; touriga nacional, tinta roriz, touriga franca

Ideal Serving temperature for your bottle of wine ; 16-18 celcius for example

The best food and wine pairings ; meats and cheeses

Also on the back label, you will fin informations such as prizes and awards received, the residual sugar content, the organic, biodynamic, natural certification, the warning for pregnant women, the sulphite content and the aging in oak barrels.

By reading the label you will recognize your tastes and preferences, making sure you find the wine you are looking for.

Thanks for reading, and Cheers!