Capsules and labels

The capsules which cover the mouth of the bottle are made from various materials such as plastic, aluminium or tinned lead. Rioja wines usually used tinned lead sheet for capsules, taking advantage of the malleable nature of the lead and the inertia of the tin. It is a made like "sandwich" material with two layers of tin which cover the lead on each side. Now other "sandwich" material lead free is used.

Sometimes the capsules are perforated to allow the cork to breathe. This reasoning is not completely sound, as unperforated caps have been used for years, with no apparent problems.

Using wax is an age-old practice. It was believed to be a perfect sealing process for the cork. However, in practice the wax peeled away and was useless as a result of lack of flexibility and adhesion in damp areas. Paraffin has also been used; but it is the capsule that offers the advantage of being both a flexible and adjustable seal, avoiding the need to break wax or paraffin when serving at table.

The bottle is defined by the name of the brand being stated on the label. As a guarantee, the cork and capsule also name the bodega. The back label indicates the Control of the Rioja and the front label the bodega and the bottler and sanitary registration number.

The label, the bodega'own personalised "flag", shows the brand name, type of wine, vintage, the place where the wine is bottled and the Control of Origin, in addition to information on volume, alcohol content, the Control of Origin seal of the Rioja Regulating Council, also included are the registration number of the bottling warehouse, and the Health Authority registration number.

The bodega has the option of using a neck label or its own back label on the bottle, provided that the name or seal of the Regulating Council also appears on the rear label.

If we compare Rioja labels with those used for Bordeaux wines, we can see differences which have no value in themselves, but are simply different ways of presenting the wines.

Bordeaux labels tend to use "colder" colours than Rioja, where ochre or parchment colours are still considered important. We also tend to use heraldic symbols and coats of arms more frequently, with fewer outside views of the bodega. As far as general vineyard views are concerned, these are used as much on Bordeaux as on Rioja labels.

A suitable reason for criticism would be the Rioja wines, which setting out to be young and fresh (even in the Gran Reserva, which are far from rancid and maderized in taste) tended to over-use parchment or leathery colours on their labels, these always have associations of being "old but not fresh".