The name of the wine producer or winery is usually pretty obvious for most regions. In New World wines, it is usually the most prominent and largest name on the label. Old World wines again will feature place prominently and the producer is less obvious. The exception is Bordeaux where you will see in big text either Domaine (home) or Chateau (castle) followed by the producer’s name.

The vintage is the year the grapes were grown for a wine. Since wine characteristics and quality can vary from vintage to vintage, this is important to know. Most wines are produced to be enjoyed immediately. Some require a few years to age and by regionally law, some are required to sit in oak barrels for a specific length of time before they can be bottled. It is not uncommon to see the vintage years from 2008 thru 2014 on store shelves now.

Alcohol content can give you a clue on the sweetness of the wine. The process of fermenting breaks down the sugars and produces ethanol (the alcohol) in wine thus one could deduct that the higher the alcohol content, the lower the sugar content.

And while everything above still may sound confusing, the best advice is to do a quick bit of research, seek recommendations from family, friends or wine stewards, or seek out a local wine tasting before you hit the shelves of a wine shop. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Sometimes wine will have a special proprietary name like “Grape Escape” on their label. These typically are marketing gimmicks used to catch your attention. They do not help you identify anything about the wine.