Wine - Portugal - Glossary Of Label Terms

Front 1

What does the term "adamado" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 1

Adamado:

Sweet.

Front 2

What does the term "adega" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 2

Adega:

Literally "cellar," and commonly used as part of the name of a company or cooperative, similar to the Spanish term "bodega."

Front 3

What does the term "aperitivo" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 3

Aperitivo:

Apéritif.

Front 4

What does the term "branco" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 4

Branco:

White.

Front 5

What does the term "bruto" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 5

Bruto:

Portugese adaptation of the French "brut," used to describe a dry sparkling wine.

Front 6

What does the term "carvalho" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 6

Carvalho:

Oak.

Front 7

What does the term "casa" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 7

Casa:

Refers to the property or estate and may also indicate a single-vineyard wine.

Front 8

What does the term "casta" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 8

Casta:

Grape variety.

Front 9

What does the term "casta predominante" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 9

Casta predominante:

Refers to the major grape variety used in a wine.

Front 10

What does the term "colheita" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 10

Colheita:

This means vintage and is followed by the year of harvest.

Front 11

What does the term "clarete" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 11

Clarete:

Bordeaux-style or deep rosé.

Front 12

What does the term "claro" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 12

Claro:

New, or "nouveau," wine.

Front 13

What does the term "doce" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 13

Doce:

Sweet.

Front 14

What does the term "Denominacão de Origem Cóntrolada (DOC)" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 14

Denominacão de Origem Cóntrolada (DOC):

Roughly equivalent to a French AOC.

Front 15

What does the term "engarrafado por" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 15

Engarrafado por:

Bottled by.

Front 16

What does the term "engarrafado na origem" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 16

Engarrafado na origem:

Estate-bottled.

Front 17

What does the term "escolha" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 17

Escolha:

Choice or selection.

Front 18

What does the term "espumante" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 18

Espumante:

A sparkling wine that may be made by any method unless qualified by another term.

Front 19

What does the term "garrafa" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 19

Garrafa:

Bottle.

Front 20

What does the term "garrafeira" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 20

Garrafeira:

This term may be used only for a vintage-dated wine that possesses an extra 0.5% of alcohol above the minimum requirement. Red wines must have a minimum of three years' maturation, including one year in bottle; white wines must have one year, with six months in bottle. The wine may come from a demarcated region, or be blended from various areas.

Front 21

What does the term "generoso" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 21

Generoso:

An apéritif or dessert wine rich in alcohol and usually sweet.

Front 22

What does the term "Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada (IPR)" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 22

Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada (IPR):

Roughly equivalent to a French VDQS.

Front 23

What does the term "licoroso" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 23

Licoroso:

A fortified wine.

Front 24

What does the term "maduro" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 24

Maduro:

Literally "matured" - it often refers to a wine that has been aged in a vat.

Front 25

What does the term "palácio" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 25

Palácio:

Refers to the property or estate and may also indicate a single-vineyard wine.

Front 26

What does the term "produzido e engarrafado por" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 26

Produzido e engarrafado por:

Produced and bottled at or by.

Front 27

What does the term "quinado" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 27

Quinado:

Tonic wine.

Front 28

What does the term "quinta" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 28

Quinta:

Farm or estate.

Front 29

What does the term "rosado" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 29

Rosado:

Rosé.

Front 30

What does the term "reserva" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 30

Reserva:

A term that can be used only to qualify a vintage year of "outstanding quality," where the wine has an alcoholic strength of at least 0.5% above the minimum requirement. Wine may come from a demarcated region, but does not have to; it could be blended from different areas.

Front 31

What does the term "seco" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 31

Seco:

Dry.

Front 32

What does the term "solar" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 32

Solar:

Refers to the property or estate and may also indicate a single-vineyard wine.

Front 33

What does the term "tinto" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 33

Tinto:

Red.

Front 34

What does the term "velho" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 34

Velho:

Literally means "old" and, in the past, this term used not to have any legal definition. Now it can only be applied to wines with a strict minimum age: three years for red wines and two years for whites.

Front 35

What does the term "vinha" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 35

Vinha:

Vineyard.

Front 36

What does the term "Vinho Regional (VR)" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 36

Vinho Regional (VR):

Similar to a large-sized "vin de pays."

Front 37

What does the term "vinho de mesa" mean on Portugese wine labels?

Back 37

Vinho de mesa:

The table wine equivalent to French "vin de table." If the label does not state a specific DOC or Garrafeira, the wine will be a cheap blend.