The N on a wine bottle: what does it mean? Indeed, you often see the letter N appear on a wine bottle. We have already explained the meaning of the letter R on a wine bottle. That one stood for “récoltant” (grower). But do you know what the letter N means? With this article, you’ll know everything about this mysterious letter N on your wine capsule.
What does N mean on a wine bottle?
The letter N on a bottle is an abbreviation for “négociant” (merchant) or “non récoltant” (non-grower). It indicates that the bottler bought the wine and therefore did not harvest the grapes. This type of wine is also referred to as merchant wine. However, it isn’t all that simple. Indeed, a winemaker can perfectly well use their own grapes as well as grapes from other estates. In such a case, the letter N will appear on the wine bottle. Conversely, a large wine group may have bought a lot of land or bought grapes from many winemakers. In that case, it will also need to carry the letter N on the bottle. It’s worth noting that there is a subtlety. Indeed, if the bottler bottles in the same place where the wine was produced, they can obtain grower status and thus get an R on the wine bottle. !N on a wine bottle
Quality of wines with N on the capsule
A question then comes to mind. When choosing my wine, should I favour bottles with the letter R on the capsule? Or even, should I steer completely clear of bottles with the letter N? As you might suspect, there are no right or wrong answers to this question. Indeed, you can find a very good wine or a bad wine in both cases. This letter lets you form a first impression of the wine: it is necessarily a clue. However, we recommend that you read the wine label carefully and ask for advice to be sure of choosing your wine well.
You now know the meaning of the letter N on a wine bottle. The capsules on the bottles in your wine cellar no longer hold any secrets for you. Want to go further and stop leaving your wine choice to chance? Join the club to learn wine simply!
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