In many European countries a wine is named for the growing area or appellation where it originated. For example, Bordeaux Supérieur, Brouilly, and Chablis are all French ACs (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée); Chianti is an Italian DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata Garantita), and Rioja is a Spanish DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada).

In some areas like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America, and in France's Alsace region, the grape variety (such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay) is often the name of the wine.

Proprietary names are sometimes used when a wine doesn't fit into either of the previous guidelines. For example, Joseph Phelps Vineyards' Insignia which, because it's a Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend and doesn't contain 75 percent of one grape variety, cannot (in the United States) be named after a specific grape variety.

Descriptive Information
Occasionally, wine labels include descriptive words or phrases designed to give the consumer added information. For example, a label might indicate the wine was barrel-fermented, a process thought to imbue a wine with rich, creamy flavors, delicate oak characteristics, and better aging capabilities. Many terms, however, are simply marketing jargon with no legal or standard usage.

Appellation or Growing Region
As mentioned above, the actual growing area or appellation becomes the name of many European wines. In other areas like the United States and Australia, where the wine is more often named for the grape variety, some producers also list the growing region on the label, particularly if the area is prestigious. The Napa Valley in the United States and the Hunter Valley in Australia are examples of such well-known growing regions. In the United States, where such growing regions are called American Viticultural Areas (AVA), at least 85 percent of the grapes must come from a single AVA for the region's name to be used on the label.

Text from www.epicurious.com. Image from www.wine.com.