Using Cabernet Sauvignon as an example. Most bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon have small percentages of other grapes added such as merlot, cabernet franc, etc., and are labeled Cabernet Sauvignon. Other wines are labeled "Bordeau Blend" and have the same small percentages of merlot, cabernet franc, etc. Other wines are labeled "RED BLEND" or just "PROPRIETORY RED" and they also have basically the same grape percentages. So my question: Is there a specific formula as to how you label your wine or is it up to the winery on how they will label thie wine?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
The short answer is that the language appearing on a wine label is dictated by both government regulations and the producer's preferences. The winery has the option to identify the wine with the name of the grape variety, and that is the most common strategy in the U.S. If they choose "Cabernet Sauvignon," the wine must contain at least 75% of that grape provided it bears a "California" appellation. The winery is free to add other varieties to the blend, and it is typical to use so-called Bordeaux types including Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The maker might instead select a unique proprietary name without referring to the grapes. This allows complete freedom in terms of blending options, although the origin of the grapes must still conform to the appellation rules. For a "Napa Valley" proprietary bottling, 85% of the grapes must come from the delimited area. One well-known example comes from Joseph Phelps, whose "Insignia" states "Napa Valley" and "Red Wine" on the front label. It is based mainly on Cabernet Sauvignon with other grapes such as Merlot, Malbec and/or Petit Verdot depending on the year. Another closely related term referring specifically to a mix of Bordeaux grapes is "Meritage" (both red and white), such as Franciscan Estate's "Magnificat." This wine is a proprietary red meeting the labeling requirements unique to Meritage. In sum, each winery pursues the approach they think best, based on their own philosophy and business objectives, insuring that the wording on their labels meets official regulations. That may indeed result in many wines which resemble each other yet are marketed with very different names!
