How to Read a Wine Label in 30 Seconds

You don’t need to know hundreds of wine terms. In a store, it’s enough to look at a few key things.

The country and region can tell you about the climate and the wine’s overall style.

The grape variety is one of the easiest indicators of what the wine is likely to taste like.

The vintage tells you when the grapes were harvested.

The alcohol content can also give you a clue. Higher-alcohol wines often feel fuller-bodied and more intense.

DOC, AOC, DOCG, and other classifications indicate that the wine was produced according to specific rules in a particular region. However, a higher classification does not necessarily guarantee that you’ll personally enjoy the wine.