| Is there really a risk of lead poisoning from foil caps? What does all of that information on the label mean? Wine comes in different bottle sizes. Do they each have a name? What is that dent in the bottom of a bottle of wine?
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| QUESTION | ANSWER |
| Is there really a risk of lead poisoning from foil caps? | The covering on the top of the wine bottle is called a capsule or foil because they were originally made of metal foil. Capsules haven’t been made of lead or lead alloys since 1993 because soil contamination and lead contamination of wine were traced to these coverings. Substances such as plastic, tin, or paper are now used. If you do drink a wine with a lead foil capsule, carefully wipe the neck of the bottle after extracting the cork and before serving the wine. |
| What does all of that information on the label mean? | The following can be found on the label of a wine produced in the U.S.:
--Geographical origin: country or state, vineyard or viticultural area
--Bottle size/volume: a regular bottle of wine is 750 ml
--Alcoholic strength by volume: ranges from about 8.5% to 15%
--Type of wine: such as table wine or dessert wine
--Vintage year: year the grapes used to make the wine were harvested.
--Name and address of the wine producer
--Specific bottling information: where the wine was bottled, for example, estate bottled (made from grapes grown in vineyards owned by the winery)
--The name of the wine: may be named after the variety of grape it was made from such as Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, or for the region where it was made, or it can be given a name created by the producer
--Government warning: pertaining to pregnant women, ability to drive, and general health
--"Contains Sulfites": a warning to those who may be allergic
For information regarding labels on bottles of w |
| Wine comes in different bottle sizes. Do they each have a name? | A standard sized bottle of wine holds 750 ml of wine. A smaller bottle, called a half bottle, is 375 ml. Bottles bigger than a standard sized bottle include:
--Magnum (= 2 standard bottles)
--Double Magnum (Bordeaux)/Jeroboam (Champagne/Burgundy) (= 4 standard bottles)
--Jeroboam (Bordeaux)/Rehoboam (Champagne/Burgundy) (= 6 standard bottles)
--Imperiale (Bordeaux)//Methuselah (Champagne/Burgundy) (= 8 standard bottles)
--Salmanazar (Champagne/Burgundy) (= 12 standard bottles)
--Balthazar (Champagne/Burgundy) (= 16 standard bottles)
--Nebuchadnezzar (Champagne/Burgundy) (= 20 standard bottles) |
| What is that dent in the bottom of a bottle of wine? | The dent on the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt. It is found on the bottom of Champagne/sparkling wine bottles and some still wine bottles. The main purpose of the rounded bottom or punt is to strengthen the bottle--especially important for sparkling wines--but punts also can be useful for collecting sediment and for pouring wine (it provides a place to put your thumb). |
| Information courtesy of Wine Market Council. |
