What is a "Riserva" Wine
Knowing how to read the label of a bottle and knowing the meaning and characteristics of the various wordings, terms and denominations of a wine is of fundamental importance in order to understand what type of product you are dealing with or what type of wine you intend to buy and taste.
One of the terms you may come across is that of a “Riserva” wine.
Generally speaking, a “Riserva” wine is a wine subjected to a specific aging and refinement period, more prolonged than the basic version of the same wine.
In this regard, the Italian legislation is very clear. Law no. 238 of 12 December 2016, “Organic regulation of the cultivation of vines and the production and trade of wine”, establishes that:
“The term ‘Riserva’ is attributed to wines with Designation of Origin (DO) that have undergone a period of aging, including any refinement, of not less than:
a) two years for red wines;
b) one year for white wines;
c) one year for sparkling wines obtained via the autoclave fermentation method called the “Martinotti method” or “Charmat method”;
d) three years for sparkling wines obtained with natural refermentation in the bottle.”
The first indication we get from the text is that the term “Riserva” can only be attributed to wines of particular value and quality, DOC and DOCG wines, DOP according to European legislation. A “Riserva” wine is therefore a wine of absolute pristine quality.
Furthermore, the term “Riserva” is used for any wine subjected to a specific aging and refinement period, for which the law identifies a minimum time-period for each type. It is important to specify that the aging period of a “Riserva” wine is always higher than that of the basic version of the same wine.
This prolonged aging period makes the “Riserva” a more intense, more structured wine, with a sustained alcohol content, a high extract, a generous, persistent, complex, rich body, with marked tertiary, spicy, balsamic and even woody aromas.
The “Riserva” wine on the label
Not all the regulations provide for the “Riserva” label, simply because not all wines are suitable for prolonged aging. Those that, on the other hand, provide for the “Reserve” label do not consider it mandatory to report the term on the label, leaving full freedom to the producer.
In any case and rightly so, a producer who gives life to a “Riserva” wine almost always decides to print the term on the label. First of all, because it is an indication of quality and value, capable of embellishing and making the bottle more attractive; in addition to providing further information to the consumer, who will thus have a clearer picture of what he/she has purchased or intends to purchase.
You only live once and with that in mind, we will soon have our limited edition Rieccolo Montepulciano Riserva available for purchase.
