Key to the L-WIN database About L-WIN L-WIN The Liv-ex Wine Identification Number serves as a universal wine identifier for the wine trade. L-WIN is a unique seven-digit numerical code that can be used to quickly and accurately identify a wine. Benefits of L-WIN All wine trade participants have different naming conventions for their products, depending on which parts of the wine label they feel are the most important. L-WIN allows wine companies to keep their preferred naming system, while introducing a new universal code. Using L-WIN L-WIN can be used to identify wines in a database, website or in any other printed materials, making it quicker and easier for trade participants to accurately search for specific wines. Each L-WIN refers to the wine itself (i.e. the producer and brand, grape or vineyard). The first six numbers of the code represent each wine s unique identifier, while the seventh number is a check digit that minimises input errors. Additional information, such as the vintage, pack and bottle size can be appended to the L-WIN in a standard format. (Alternatively, this data can be added as separate fields.) The below is a key to the L-WIN database, and explains the different terms used for classifying wines. This includes a breakdown of how Liv-ex names wines from different regions. : The company, estate or brand that is responsible for producing the wine. Precedence is given to the name that is used in the marketing of the wine. As outlined above, all words related to the word winery (chateau, domaine, weingut, azienda agricola, bodega, casa etc.) are excluded, as are the majority of linking words (and, the, it etc.). Linking words are used only when they are widely used amongst consumers or the trade and the omitting of them would reduce clarity, such as for producers that include the term pere et fils. When several producers are mentioned on the label, the most specific one is used (e.g. Nippozzano is an estate owned by Frescobaldi. Both are mentioned on the label, but Nippozzano is used because Frescobaldi owns several different estates). Some wines always have (not applicable) in the grower field. This is because some wine estates produce only one or two wines, which are then more widely known by the brand or label. This refers especially to the wines of the region Bordeaux where the grower is mostly. Other famous examples are the Super Tuscans Sassicaia and Ornellaia from Italy or Pingus from Spain.
: The label is the name of the brand and it should, in connection with the producer, clearly identify the wine. The name used is the one that will most quickly and easily identify the produce and, again, precedence is given to the name the wine is marketed under. The label can be any of (and is typically a combination of) the following details: Brand (Lafite Rothschild) The name of the appellation, town or village (Volnay) Smaller climats or vineyards (Volnay Santenots) The grape variety (Cabernet Sauvignon) Additional information that might refer to quality (Spatlese) or age of the wine (Riserva) or vines (Vv) etc. If there are two wines under the same name from the same these should be differentiated by including the colour in the wine name for European wines (rouge, blanc, tinto, branco, rosso, bianco etc.) excluding Germany. For German labels the grape is usually displayed on the label. ( If not and it is the same name for red and white you should add the colour with the name ) New World wines with the same name and same should refer to the grape in the label name. 99% of the new world wines do have the grape on the label. If the grape is not inclued and there are two different wines, then the colour should be used. Champagne Special: All Non Vintage champagnes needs to have a NV at the end of the label name! It is important to clarify which are Non Vintage and Vintage. Sometimes they have nearly the same Name. The order that the different details are mentioned is always the same. If a producer produces two wines of different colours and markets them under the same name then the colour is added at the end of the wine name (e.g. Domaine Chevalier Rouge and Domaine Chevalier Blanc). Hospice des Beaune Wines: In instances of a Hospice de Beaune LWIN request, use Hospice des Beaune as the producer. : Who is named on the bottom of the front label (will be the Winery who bottled the wine). After that, Appelation (which wine it is, Meursaul, Beaune, Charmes Chambertin etc.). Last the name of the person of note: which is labeled as: i.e. Cuvee Maurice Drouhin. : This refers to the colour of the wine during fermentation, not necessarily the colour of the grapes. (Blancs de noir champagne has a white colour but is made out of red grapes, for example). The three main categories are: White Rose Red : The type of wine is defined as: Still Sparkling
Fortified Sweet Still wine: The term covers all products between 1-18% alcohol (providing this alcohol is entirely the product of fermented grapes and no distilled alcohol has been added post-fermentation) that are otherwise not classified as Sparkling or Sweet. Sparkling wine: A product which is obtained by the first or second alcoholic fermentation of fresh grapes, of grape must or of wine, suitable for at least yielding table wine. When the container is opened its characteristic is the release of carbon dioxide. Its actual alcoholic strength by volume is not less than 7%. The excess pressure due to endogenous carbon dioxide in solution has to be at least 1 bar. Fortified wine: Having an actual alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 15% and not more than 22%. It can be produced from wine, grape must in fermentation, or a combination of these products, and by the addition (individually or in combination) of neutral alcohol of vine origin or wine distillate. Sweet: Contains at least 45 g/l residual sugar. : Refers to the name of the wine growing region in which the wine is produced. In some countries the wine growing regions are named after the legal region (e.g. Italy: Tuscany) and in others the wine growing regions have their own name (e.g. Germany: Mosel). Sub region: s might be divided into smaller sub regions (e.g. Pauillac is a sub-region of Bordeaux). Use the smallest appellation / region which is available. ( not including Bordeaux ). : The wine's official quality category, usually referring to a specific appellation (e.g. AOC). The US is the only country outside Europe that has an officially recognised appellation system. With the reform of the EU wine regulations there have been some changes which are mentioned in brackets. : The official classification of the wine. This is only really used in France. Spirits: Standards for creating LWIN s for Spirits. for every Spirit
Whiskey: Use : YO Year Old Vintage: Always - NV Sub- Name of the Distillery Name of the Whiskey (if there is a special one),, Blend, Cask number (if needed) Age, Vintage Whiskey Whiskey growing (aging) Whiskey Sub if available Blend (Single Malt, Grain, Blended Scotch etc.) Liv-ex naming standard for old world wines: France: : Name of the company or first name and surname of the producer Name of the appellation or vineyard, followed by smaller climats, wine colour (if necessary) and additional information (if available) White, red, rose Still, sparkling, fortified, sweet Wine growing region Name of the designation (if no sub-region) Official quality category Official classification Name of the AOC (if no sub-region) VDT (Vin), VDP (IGP), VDQS (IGP or AOP) and AOC (AOP) Additional information can refer to the age of the vines (Vv - Vielles Vignes) or the condition of the berries (SGN = Selection de Grains Nobles) or the time of the harvest (VT = Vendange Tardive). Because the regulations are not the same in all French wine growing regions some are mentioned separately below.
Alsace: Grape variety, name of village, site, additional information Alsace Vineyard area or Grand Cru Champagne Name of the wine followed by an indicator of sweetness, for Non Vintage champagnes at th end NV Sparkling, still Champagne Beaujolais: : Beaujolais Name of the cru: Brouilly Regnie Chiroubles Cote de Brouilly Fleurie Saint Amour Chenas Julienas Morgon Moulin a Vent AOC
Bordeaux: : Generally ; as standard if the same producer has different wines under his/her own name (e.g. Baron Philippe Rothschild) Name of the Chateau if, otherwise as standard Bordeaux AOC 1er Cru Classe 1er Cru Superieur Classe 1er Grand Cru Classe A 1er Grand Cru Classe B 2eme Cru Classe 3eme Cru Classe 4eme Cru Classe 5eme Cru Classe Cru Bourgeois Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux Superieur In the case of several wine-producing chateaux having the same name (for example Bel Air) the sub-region is added in brackets behind the name. If this is not applicable it is replaced by the classification (e.g. Bel Air (Bordeaux Superieur). Burgundy:, usually commune and vineyard of origin Burgundy Grand cru or 1er Cru = name of the vineyard of origin Other wines = name of the commune AOC Grand Cru 1er Cru Domaine Romanee Conti = DRC It might be possible that a wine is a blend of different vineyards within a 1er cru appelation. In that case 1 Cru is added to the end of the wine name. If a wine is produced under the Hospieces de Beaune, Hospieces Beaune is added after the name of the vineyard of origin.
Austria: : Grape variety, quality indicator, name of vineyard/site Name of the federal province Wine growing areas or DAC Landwein, Qualitatswein or DAC Quality indicators can be for example Steinfeder, Federspiel or Smaragd in Wachau. Wines with protected geographical indications are called Landwein (regions are Weinland, Steirerland and Bergland). Wines with protected designations of origin are called Qualitatswein. The various designations of origin are subdivided into nine generic quality wine-growing regions which are the federal provinces and 16 specific quality wine-growing areas. Eight of these have currently reached the DAC status. Germany: Name of village, site, grape variety, quality indicator, additional information Still, sparkling, sweet Qualitatswein, Pradikatswein Quality indicators: QbA, Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA), Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) or Eiswein (from Kabinett onwards everything is Pradikatswein. Additional information are Goldkapsel, lange Goldkapsel, Alte Reben, Hochgewachs or for some producer specific numbers. Hungary, residual sugar or sweetness indicator goes last The measurement of residual sugar in Tokaji is called Puttonyos. The range goes from 3 to 6 Puttonyos, followed by Eszencia as the sweetest.
Israel: Italy:, for Super Tuscans the producer is Wine name, age signifier go last Wine growing region = state Name of the DOC or DOCG VDT, IGT (IGP), DOC (DOP), DOCG (DOP) Age signifier (Riserva) Lebanon: Portugal: : Wine name, or type (e.g. LBV in case of port wine) Port is used for fortified wines, Douro is used for still wines Vinho, IG (IGP), DOC (DOP)
Spain: : Wine name, age signifiers Name of the DO Name of the Sub-DO VT (IGP), DO (DOP), DOC, DOCa, DO de Pago (DOP) Age signifiers Age signifiers are Joven, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva For Sherry the region is called: Jerez / Sherry United Kingdom: Wine name Still, sparkling PDO
New World: Standard Name of the company or the name of the grower as it appears on the label Wine name or name of the vineyard, grape variety, additional information (single vineyard, Reserve etc.) Red, white, rose Still, sparkling, fortified Wine growing region or state Vineyard area or district (except of USA) Argentina: Australia: Wine name or name of the vineyard or additional information (Block, Old Vine, Reserve etc.), grape variety Name of the state Area mentioned on the label
Chile: Wine growing region Wine growing area/valley The sub-regions are usually called xyz Valley Mexico: NZ: Wine growing region South Africa: Name of the state Vineyard area
USA: Name of the state Name of the AVA or county (i.e. Sonoma County when producer does not mention AVA) AVA