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• Deciphering the wine label

Wine is synonymous with good times and has been so for centuries. It is meant to be enjoyed among friends in an open, amiable environment. But the purchasing of wine is becoming increasingly befuddling, mystified by myriad labeling laws. So as not to have trips to the wine store become catalyst for future gray hairs, allow me to straighten out a few phrases you’re bound to see on nearly any wine bottle.

Wine can be confusing for the under-informed recreational drinker. Governments go through much legal brouhaha in order to correctly “inform” consumers, but they appear to be lagging in some areas. For instance, in Italy and Spain, the term “reserve” or “riserva” actually means that the wine endured extra barrel aging before being bottled and sold. On this side of the Atlantic, the word has no legal significance and is more often used as a marketing tool. Also, did you know that in order to be called a Cabernet Sauvignon, California producers need only have 75 percent of that grape variety in the wine? The other 25 percent could be 1,000 other varieties of grape.

The following list is a quick roundup of a few more wine words that will help guide misinformed consumers down the aisles:

The year, sometimes called the vintage, simply denotes that the grapes used in making this wine were all harvested during that year’s growing season.

The alcohol content must be printed on all bottles of wine and can be a decent indicator of the level of sweetness in a wine. Most sweet-style Rieslings have a lower alcohol content, signifying that not all sugar was converted into alcohol.

“Appellation Champagne Controlée.” This is the only type of wine that can truly be called champagne. It must come from the Champagne region of France and be made following specific guidelines. Often imitated, never duplicated.

Armed with this insight, you can now march boldly into any wine store. Separating the fluff from the stuff has never been any easier as you now find wine drinking more pleasurable than intimidating. Pour with confidence. Here’s to the sound of clanking glasses being drowned out by laughter among friends. Cheers!