Wine labels appear to date back as far as 1550 B.C. (maybe even farther). Introduced in Egypt, seals and etchings were originally placed on bottles, or "amphorae", as a way to make trade easier, but also signified the year, type, and quality of the wines.  By the 18th century, wine trade in Europe was booming, with so-called labels printed on parchment and tied to the bottlenecks with string, much like the hang tags we still see today. And by 1798, labels could be produced in mass, thanks to the invention of the lithograph, and led to increased use of color and more emphasis on artistic design. And into ‘70s Europe, winemakers would begin to work with famous artists such as Picasso and Chagall, to name a few, to create awe-inspiring bottle labels that would properly represent the quality and unique artistry of the product within. With widespread production of bottle labels, distribution increased and the industry was forever changed.