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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts:9147
 | | 05/21/2003 4:55 PM |
| I wonder just how accurate wine labels are in presenting the true % of alcohol in the bottle. From time to time it seems I run into wines that appear either above or below that which is printed. I suppose a winemaker/producer might be interested on one hand in coming in lower than actual, particularly if the wine is on the cusp of a tax rate increase. On the other hand, with the trend toward huge, high alcohol wines, a producer might figure that if a Zin isn't above 15% it won't be taken seriously and thus err on the upside estimate.
Furthermore, some labels are much more general than others. Some list just the legal term "Table Wine", meaning it is between 12-14% alcohol. Others list only on even cutoffs, such as 12.5%, 13%, 13.5%, etc. Others, such as some Rhones I've seen list a range, such as 12.5% - 14%, while still others are extremely specific, such as 17.2%, 15.8%, etc.
So, are all printed percentages just estimates? Or some vintners more rigerous than others to present a precise figure?
Any thoughts? | | | |
| Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2193
| | 05/21/2003 5:36 PM |
| | EW: I was told by several winemakers that by LAW they are allowed to fudge on their alcohol % numbers. I forget the exact % that they are allowed to legally LIE about, but that's what I was told. Anyone else heard that one? | | | |
| skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 05/21/2003 5:46 PM |
| | Yes Brent it is true they don't have to be right on. However there are limits to how far off they may be. I was told once but don't remember all the figures. The distance off actually varies with the percentage of alcohol in the wine. | | | |
| love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12387
| | 05/21/2003 5:50 PM |
| | Togni's wife told us that if the alcohol content is less than 14%, they can just label it as "Table Wine". | | | |
| Blair Ridley
Wine Labeler
Posts:3980
| | 05/21/2003 5:55 PM |
| ...and wines under 14% are taxed at a lower rate than wines above.
From my understanding, many wineries display faulty percentages. Not really a big deal to me. | | | |
| Brian Loring
Grape Sorter
Posts:386
| | 05/21/2003 6:20 PM |
| The ATF label rules allow for a 1% variation. Some people interpret that to be plus or minus 1%. I think the actual, legally correct interpretation is plus or minus 0.5 %. The main thing ATF is interested in is wines under and over 14%, since you have to pay more tax when the wine's over 14%.
So, can you believe the numbers that are printed on the label? Sometimes I try to be as accurate as possible. Part of the problem with labeling, and why I think the fudge factor exists, is that we have to design our labels a long time before we bottle - since we need to get them approved by ATF. So, I'm getting labels done now for wines that I'll bottle in late August. That means that the alcohol levels that I put on the bottle are based on a sample I took to a lab. That sample was a blend of multiple barrels from each single vineyard, but it wasn't scientifically created in such a way as to absolutely represent the final blend. The only way to really know what the alcohol level is is to test the blended wine in tank just before bottling. So, my numbers can be off.
And, in all honesty, if I got a number back from the lab that said 14.99%, I think I'd round down to 14.9% rather than up to 15.0% | | | |
| Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11841
| | 05/21/2003 6:49 PM |
| Brian,
I was told by the folks at Landmark in Sonoma that the amount of tax they pay per bottle is based on the percentage of alcohol.
If that's true, wouldn't wineries tend to understate rather than overstate the alcohol content?... or is the tax difference negligable? | | | |
| Brian Loring
Grape Sorter
Posts:386
| | 05/21/2003 8:05 PM |
| | There's a flat rate per gallon for wines under 14% and a higher flat rate for wines 14% and higher. So, for example, the tax for 14.2% is the same as for 15.9%. The only reasons to not put the exact figure are illustrated in my previous example, or for marketing purposes - such as listing a lower value because some people might balk at buying a 15.5% Pinot - or something like that. | | | |
| Lee Ann
Barrel Filler
Posts:1232
| | 05/21/2003 8:25 PM |
| | I was told by several wine makers that they print up their labels in advance of knowing the alcohol content, so it's their best guess... | | | |
| Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11841
| | 05/21/2003 8:36 PM |
| | Thanks for the info from the horse's... uh, mouth, Brian! | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 05/21/2003 11:24 PM |
| | Same here in NZ and Aussie as far as I am aware. | | | |
| GATC
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2420
| | 06/08/2003 5:58 AM |
| | I don't think it make sense to be that precise. Instruments that measure anything are not necessarily that accurate. In order to meet government regulations, we have calibrate our instruments periodically. We have various people come in to do this, but I'm always amazed at some of the tolerances. Some of these "precise" "instruments "calibrated" by "certified" people can be off 10-20% depending on the technology used. | | | |
| Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4822
| | 06/08/2003 10:32 PM |
| GATC,
You point out an interesting dilemma. If you put 13.9% on your label and the govenment measures it at 14.1%, you might be in big trouble. But, if you have the paperwork from a certified testing facility, you are home free. So, in addition to some of the marketing reasons mentioned above, government compliance is high on the list, too. Our 2000 measured out at 14.09%. Do I think that is extremely accurate? No, of course not. But our label says 14.1% alc/vol. We pay a slightly higher tax, but have followed the rules to the letter.
\bob | | | |
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