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  • Decanter

    Notes & Queries

    Nov 06, 2019 3 minutes

    Another fine mesh

    Why do some bottles of Rioja have gold mesh around them? And does it say anything about the quality of the wine within?

    MIchael Ballard, Surrey

    Sarah Jane Evans MW replies: The golden mesh, or , around the bottle was an early form of protection against counterfeiting. It was introduced towards the end of the 19th century by the Marqués de Riscal, to protect his increasingly successful wines from tampering. Undoubtedly they added a certain glamour to the packaging, too. Given the medal-winning success of the Riscal wines, the golden

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