If wine shopping isn't something you do very often then looking along the rows and rows of bottles can sometimes be a little daunting.

Half the time the grape isn't written on the bottle, but the location is. What's sur lie? And how do AOC, DOC and IGT differ?

There is a lot to take in, but when you know the few bits of information to look for you'll feel much more confident you're choosing something you'll like.

Of course, if learning how to decode a wine label doesn't appeal to you, you can always ask our in-store wine advisors or team of Wine Guides for help. They know what they're talking about, and they don't judge ... so ask them whatever you want!

Producer or brand name

This could either be a household name or something that carries a lot of clout - it usually sits at the top of the label so is likely to be the first thing you see.

Wine name

This is fairly self-explanatory. However, many Old World (or European) wines will instead choose to list the area in which the grapes were grown (e.g. Chablis or Sancerre).

Geographical Indicator (GI)

Almost all wines will make it clear on the label where the grapes were grown, but European winemakers must follow a strict set of rules if they do this. For example, if winemakers in the Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux want to put Saint-Émilion AOC on their label, they can only use Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Because of these regulations, the GI should give you a good idea of how the wine should taste.

Grape variety

If you're someone who knows what they like and likes what they know, then chances are this is the piece of information you'll find most useful. Unfortunately, many European producers won't list them and display their GI instead.

These means you need to research which areas make the style you like. If you love Sauvignon Blanc then look out for Sancerre and Touraine, or if you're a Nebbiolo fan then opt for Barolo or Barbaresco.

Vintage

The vintage is always the year the grapes were harvestes, not the year the wine was released. This can help you determine the quality of the wine depending on whether a particular region had a good or bad year. The vintage will also tell you how old the wine is (a Gran Reserva Rioja must be aged for a minimum of five years before release.)