The country or region where the grapes for this wine were grown. Most regulations allow up to 15 percent of the wine to be made from grapes grown outside the area. This is the year in which the grapes were harvested, not the year in which the wine was bottled, which for some wines may be years later. The specific kind of grapes from which the wine was made. Not all wines disclose varietal content.
Most countries allow the use of some non-varietal grapes in the blend.
In most states of the U.S., for example, only 75 percent of the wine's content must be of the named varietal. In Europe and Australia, the rule is usually 85 percent. In a tradition known primarily in Germany and, in somewhat different form, Austria, some wines use special terminology to reflect the ripeness of the grapes and the quality of the finished wine. For more information on the German system, read John Trombley's excellent article, Knowing the German Quality System for Wines . I hope this brief tutorial has made you more comfortable with your wine shopping.