Semi-generic

Semi-generic is a legal term used in by the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to refer to a specific type of wine designation.

Consumers didn't recognize grape varieties at that time and New World producers used the familiar names to suggest the style of wine they were offering for sale.

Over the past thirty years, with the popularity of varietal labeling, semi-generic names have largely fallen out of use.

They are typically only used on inexpensive wines sold in jugs or cartons and most of those now use the more popular varietal labeling.

[1] Some U.S. states have laws which additionally restrict or prohibit the use of semi-generic names wines produced within their borders.