The labels on port bottles

[mat777]

I was looking at the 3 bottles of port in our drinks cabinet earlier during a reshuffle, and I got wondering. All the fortified grape drinks - ie port and sherry - seem to have a codes label stuck on the neck like so:



Does this label have any significance? Is there a way of deciphering the code? 2 of the bottles in the picture dont have a bottling date on the main label, is it possible to tell it from the code?

[calibrax]

http://www.fortheloveofport.com/history/the-idvp-s...

[majordad]

I think Spanish or Italian Wines have this seal as well, something to do with a legal/state guarntee ?

[mat777]

Ah, thanks for the link! Looks like the codes mean nothing to industry insiders then? Great...