| Wineries have many optional terms available to | | | | and generally in proximity to the varietal name on |
| use on their wine labels when it comes time for | | | | the label. For example, a vineyard designate type |
| bottling. The use of any of these optional terms | | | | label may state, "Jones Vineyard" as its brand |
| have specific regulated definitions that their wine | | | | name, then further down list, "Coyote Creek |
| blend must qualify for however. In the case of | | | | Ranch" (as a vineyard designate) next to |
| using a vineyard designate on a label a winery | | | | "Chardonnay" the varietal of the wine. This would |
| qualifies to use it if at least 95% of the grapes | | | | tell you as the consumer that at least 95% of |
| that created the final blend came from that site. | | | | that wine you are tasting came from the Coyote |
| These vineyard sites might be ones that the | | | | Creek Ranch vineyard site. |
| winery owns and they can also be vineyard | | | | As in the example shown above sometimes a |
| property that they purchase grapes from. In the | | | | vineyard site will be called a ranch while others are |
| case where they purchase the fruit they must | | | | called vineyard, and others still will even contain no |
| have permission from the vineyard owner to use | | | | modifier whatsoever. Again in any case the |
| their site name on the wine label however. Most | | | | vineyard designate name generally appears next |
| vineyard owners are open to this though as it is | | | | to the varietal designation so that can serve as a |
| good promotion for them. | | | | guide of sorts for determining whether or not it is |
| There can be some confusion when this label | | | | a vineyard site if the label does not state a |
| term is discussed. There are many wineries who | | | | modifier. |
| use the word "vineyard" in their winery name. | | | | Wine labels are full of information to guide |
| Beringer Vineyards for example. This is extremely | | | | consumers in their purchases or tell them a story |
| common in the industry. That name in the case | | | | as they are enjoying the opened product. Much of |
| of a wine label is called the brand name. The use | | | | that information really serves to bring them into |
| of a vineyard designate, or specific vineyard site | | | | the inside circle about the wine's life, making their |
| name will almost always appear in smaller text | | | | experience of it that much more rounded. |