Italians have a wonderful way of describing all things wine.

Italian Wine Terminology

Over a number of Blogs we'll share some of the information we've researched for your wine enjoyment experience....

Knowing what the words on a wine label mean will help you make smarter purchases at the wine store.

Abboccato: Slightly sweet

Amabile: Semi-sweet

Annata: Vintage year

Bianco: White

Brut: Dry sparkling wine

Classico: Wines produced in the best zone of a production area

Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or DOC: Denomination of Controlled Origin

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, or DOCG: Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin

Dolce: Sweet

Fattoria: Farm or estate

Frizzante: Lightly sparkling

Identificazione Geografica Tipica, or IGT: Typical Geographic Identification

Liquoroso: High-alcohol wine, often fortified

Metodo Classico: Sparkling wines produced using the champenoise method

Novello: New wine marketed shortly after the harvest

Passito: Wine made from dried, or raisined, grapes; often, but by no means always, sweet

Produttore: Producer

Riserva: Reserve wine, aged for the duration of time specified by law

Rosato: Rosé

Rosso: Red

Rustico: Rustic vineyard worker's farmhouse

Secco: Dry

Spumante: Sparkling

Tenuta: Farm or estate

Vendemmia: Harvest

Vino da Tavola, or VdT: Table Wine