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 Please note that this article on the back labels of Spanish wine bottles should be read in conjunction with our article on the front labels of Spanish wine bottles
Not all Spanish wine bottles carry a back label but many do and a great number of those contain valuable information. Wine producers realise the importance of helping consumers make as informed a choice as possible with regard to buying wine and so use the back label to enhance the information given on the front. As we have seen the front label gives information about the area of origin, the age of the wine and often the grape varieties.
The back label contains additional information which may give details of how the wine was made, tasting notes, recommended serving temperature and suitable food to accompany the wine. This information may well be in a foreign language, usually English, as well as Spanish. Some of what we are told on the back label is helpful and some less so.
The two most important pieces of information that the back label can tell us are the tasting notes and the recommended serving temperature. The tasting notes will be written in the following order - colour, smell and taste. Here is a good example taken from Zagalon Tinto Joven, deep red purple colour with violet hints, fresh red fruit aromas & powerful on the palate, full-bodied, smooth tannins and long finish & Serve at 16ºC. This provides a clear indication of what we can expect inside the bottle.
The guidance provided regarding serving temperature is crucial because this is the temperature at which the winemaker believes his/her wine will taste the best. Drinking the wine at the correct temperature can enhance the pleasure of the wine enormously.
As a general observation most people drink red wine too warm at home and in restaurants. (There is no excuse for any restaurant to serve wine at anything other than in the correct condition since the customer is paying a premium for the wine.)
Finally, it is now European law to disclose the use of sulfites in foodstuffs. The use of sulfites in winemaking as a sterilising agent is not new and reference to this on the label is nothing untoward.
This Article on Sweet Spanish Wine was written by Steve Bannell of Alegria Wines. Telephone 0034 626 469 154
Spanish White Wine Spanish Dry White Wine Spanish Wine Labels Spanish Wine Bottles Spanish Rose Wine Spanish Sweet Wine Ribera del Duero Wine Spanish Rioja Wines Spanish Tempranillo Wines Spanish Garnacha Wine Spanish Mencia and Monastrell Wine Spanish Foreign Grape Varieties
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