Place names, appellation rules and the grape the label assumes you know.
The place is the brand
European labels lead with the region and leave the grape implied. Chablis means Chardonnay, Sancerre means Sauvignon Blanc, Barolo means Nebbiolo, Rioja means mostly Tempranillo. Learn twenty of these pairings and most European wine lists become readable.
Appellations are rulebooks, not quality badges
An appellation sets permitted grapes, maximum yields, minimum alcohol and ageing. It promises a style. A careless producer inside a famous appellation can still make dull wine, and a good producer outside it can make thrilling wine labelled simply as Vin de France.
Hierarchy words are worth learning
Village, Premier Cru and Grand Cru in Burgundy; Riserva in Italy; Reserva and Gran Reserva in Spain; Prädikat levels in Germany. Each signals tighter rules — usually lower yields and longer ageing.
- 1. Take five European labels and write the grape each one implies.Hint: If the label names no grape, it is almost certainly an Old World appellation wine.
- 2. Compare a village and a Premier Cru from the same producer if you can.Hint: Look for concentration and length rather than a different flavour set.