A quality term used in many countries to declare higher quality wines with special requirements such as higher alcohol content or longer ageing periods compared to standard quality. However, the terms have different meanings in the individual countries with different specifications.
Riserva is regulated by wine law in Italy and Reservain Spain and Portugal. Réserve" in France is not regulated by wine law. In the English-speaking world, the term is often used in combination with other terms. These are, for example, Estate Reserve, Private Reserve, Reserve Selection, Proprietor's Reserve and Vintner's Reserve. But here too, this usually means longer maturation and/or better wine quality
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena