A wine or champagne label plays a crucial role on a bottle, as it is often the only way to evaluate the contents before purchasing. Since wine and champagne are frequently judged by their labels, they need to be attractive, informative, and compliant with regulations.

There are many regulations and strict guidelines surrounding labelling. Every wine bottle must state the country of origin, the producer’s name and address, the volume of liquid in the bottle, and whether the wine contains allergens such as sulphites. It must also display the alcohol by volume (ABV) level, which serves as an indicator of the wine’s style, with lighter wines around 12% ABV and fuller-bodied wines at 14% or higher. These details can be shown on either the front or back label, but they must all be visible within one field of vision.

What Else Can You Learn from a Wine or Champagne Label?

A wine or champagne label typically includes key components such as the producer or brand, the geographical origin, the grape variety, and the vintage.

The Brand or Producer

If the producer is well-known, their name will usually be prominently displayed on the front label to stand out. For lesser-known wine or champagne makers, the most prominent text on the label may instead highlight the grape variety or the region, with the producer’s name appearing in smaller print.

Grape Variety

The type of grape used has a significant impact on the wine’s character and flavour. However, climate also plays a role, meaning that a Chardonnay from southern Australia will taste different from a Chardonnay from Burgundy. Some producers, particularly in France, do not mention the grape variety on the label, as regulations often do not permit them to do so.

For example, White Burgundy or Chablis can only be made from the Chardonnay grape, while Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé can only be made from Sauvignon Blanc.

Geographical Indicator (GI)

Most labels specify the country and region where the wine was produced. The geographical indicator provides insight into the wine’s expected flavour, as growing conditions, climate, and regional winemaking traditions influence its characteristics.

For example, the label of a red wine gift from Château Mayne-Vieil in Fronsac, Bordeaux, indicates the wine’s high quality. The phrase "Mis En Bouteille", meaning "bottled" in French, signifies that the wine was bottled at a particular estate, which often indicates superior quality.

Vintage

The vintage refers to the year in which the grapes were grown and harvested. A wine’s vintage can affect its taste and quality due to the weather conditions that influence the vines throughout the growing season.

The vintage can also indicate the best time to drink the wine. For example, Sauvignon Blanc is meant to be consumed while young and fresh, so if a bottle is over three years old, it may not be at its peak.

If a label does not display a vintage, the wine is non-vintage, meaning it was made from a blend of grapes harvested in different years to ensure a consistent flavour or "house style." This is common in champagne, where non-vintage bottles are often marked NV (Non-Vintage) on the label.

Personalised Front Labels for Corporate Wine and Champagne

At Wines Select, many of our wines and champagnes are shipped with a “Back Label Only”, where all the required legal information is displayed. This allows for complete creative freedom in designing a personalised front label for your wine or champagne bottle.

You can create a unique, bespoke, full-colour label branded with your logo and tailored to your specific design preferences. The front label can include any message, subject to available space, while the back label remains unchanged, ensuring the wine or champagne’s quality and provenance are maintained.

For more information on creating personalised corporate wine or champagne labels, please contact us.