Organic estate since 2005 AOP Fronton

Free delivery from 12 bottles in France

Website & orders 06 50 93 88 25 Estate 05 63 30 13 13

Website & orders06 50 93 88 25 Estate05 63 30 13 13
Château Saint Louis, AOP Fronton, IGP Comté Tolosan. Independent winegrower, organic farming.

The Wine Workshop

Reading a wine label

Tap a number on the label to see what the statement means. What is mandatory, what is optional, and what indicates an organic wine.

CHÂTEAU Saint Louis Cuvée Tradition FRONTON APPELLATION FRONTON PROTÉGÉE 2022 Mis en bouteille au château Château Saint Louis · 82370 Labastide-Saint-Pierre Produit de France · Vin rouge 75 cl 13,5 % vol Contient des sulfites FR-BIO-01 E (100 ml) : 80 kcal L22-01 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sample label: values are for illustration only.
  1. 1 The designation Mandatory

    The name of the appellation, followed by “appellation d’origine protégée” or “contrôlée” (protected or controlled designation of origin): the wine comes from the Fronton PDO area and complies with its specifications. For a PGI wine, you would read, for example, “IGP Comté Tolosan”.

  2. 2 The estate and the cuvée Customary

    The estate’s name identifies the producer; the cuvée name, freely chosen, distinguishes its wines from one another.

  3. 3 The vintage Optional

    The year of the harvest. It is not mandatory; if it is shown, at least 85% of the grapes must have been harvested in that year.

  4. 4 The volume Mandatory

    The nominal volume: 75 cl for a bottle, 37.5 cl for a half-bottle, 150 cl for a magnum.

  5. 5 The alcohol content Mandatory

    The alcoholic strength by volume, in % vol. “13,5 % vol” means 13.5 ml of alcohol per 100 ml of wine.

  6. 6 Allergens Mandatory

    “Contient des sulfites” (contains sulphites) from 10 mg per litre, which means on almost every wine. Egg- or milk-derived products used to fine the wine must also be declared if they remain present in it.

  7. 7 The pregnant woman pictogram Mandatory

    Mandatory in France since 2007. It is a reminder that drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, even in small amounts, can have serious consequences for the child’s health.

  8. 8 The bottler Mandatory

    The name and address of whoever bottled the wine. The statements “mis en bouteille au château” (bottled at the château) or “à la propriété” (at the estate) are regulated: they mean that the holding which harvested the grapes and made the wine also bottled it.

  9. 9 The country of origin Mandatory

    “Produit de France” (Product of France): the country where the grapes were harvested and made into wine.

  10. 10 The lot number Mandatory

    It makes it possible to trace a bottle’s origin, for example in the event of a recall. It often begins with the letter L.

  11. 11 The EU organic logo Mandatory for an organic wine

    The European Union’s star leaf, with the code of the certification body (FR-BIO-01 for Ecocert, which certifies the estate) and the origin of the grapes, “Agriculture France” or “Agriculture UE” (EU agriculture). The French AB logo may be added.

  12. 12 The energy value and the QR code Mandatory since 2023

    Since 8 December 2023, the energy value has appeared on the label, per 100 ml. The list of ingredients and the full nutrition declaration can be provided online, via a QR code.

What is mandatory

The designation, such as “Fronton, appellation d’origine protégée” (protected designation of origin); the nominal volume, 75 cl for a bottle; the alcoholic strength, in % vol; the statement “Contient des sulfites” (contains sulphites) from 10 mg per litre; the pregnant woman pictogram, mandatory in France since 2007; the country of origin; the name and address of the bottler; the lot number.

Since 8 December 2023, the energy value has also appeared on the label. The list of ingredients and the nutrition declaration can be provided via a QR code.

What is optional, but regulated

The vintage is not mandatory; when it is shown, at least 85% of the grapes must come from that year. Statements such as “mis en bouteille au château” (bottled at the château) or “à la propriété” (at the estate) are regulated. The Vigneron indépendant logo indicates a winegrower who grows their vines, makes their wine and sells it themselves.

Recognising an organic wine

An organic wine carries the European Union’s star leaf, with the code of the body that inspects it and the origin of the grapes. The French AB logo may be added. Château Saint Louis’s vines have been certified organic by Ecocert since 2005.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions

What does AOP mean on a wine label?

Appellation d’origine protégée (protected designation of origin, PDO): the wine comes from a defined area and complies with specifications that set the grape varieties, yields and practices. AOC is the French name for the same protection.

Why does “contient des sulfites” appear on almost every wine?

Because the statement is mandatory from 10 mg of sulphites per litre, and fermentation naturally produces a little. Added sulphites protect the wine from oxidation and bacteria.

Is the vintage mandatory?

No. But if it is shown, at least 85% of the grapes must have been harvested in that year.

How can you tell if a wine is organic?

Look for the European organic logo, the star leaf, accompanied by the code of the certification body. Without this logo, the word “bio” (organic) is not permitted.

The Wine Workshop

Further reading

Sources

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