Riserva
Intermediate Regions & Terroirree-ZEHR-vah
Definition
Italian designation for wines aged longer than standard requirements.
In Depth
Each DOCG/DOC defines its own Riserva aging minimums. Chianti Classico Riserva requires 24 months aging; Barolo Riserva requires 62 months (5+ years). Riserva implies the producer selected their best lots for extended aging. The Spanish equivalent is Reserva (12 months oak + 24 months bottle for reds in Rioja). Not to be confused with the unregulated US term 'Reserve.'
Details
- Category
- Regions & Terroir
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Pronunciation
- ree-ZEHR-vah