Vinetype

Vinetype is a term used in wine data management and labeling to describe the classification of wine by its primary characteristics. It typically combines grape variety, style, and sometimes color or production method to create a compact descriptor that can be used in inventories, tasting notes, and search systems. The term is not part of a single global standard; its exact format varies by producer, retailer, or software platform.

Common components include the primary grape variety or blend (for example, Chardonnay, Merlot, or a Bordeaux blend), the style or production method (dry, sweet, sparkling, fortified, oak-aged), and the color category (white, red, rosé). When used together, they yield strings such as Chardonnay-Dry-White, Merlot-Dry-Red, Prosecco-Brut-Sparkling, or Riesling-Sweet-White.

Applications: vinetype fields are used in databases to enable filtering, sorting, and cross-referencing with vintage, region, and producer. They help consumers and staff identify a wine’s general type at a glance.

Limitations: because there is no universal standard, vinetype formats can differ between systems, potentially causing ambiguity without accompanying metadata.

See also: wine classification, viticulture, enology, wine labeling.