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Reserva
By Maria Santos
A Portuguese wine classification indicating superior quality from a single vintage with higher alcohol content.
Reserva is a quality classification in Portuguese wine law, designating wines from a single vintage that meet specific quality criteria. A Reserva wine must have alcohol content at least 0.5% above the minimum for its region and must be approved by a tasting panel.
Unlike Spain, the Portuguese classification focuses more on quality assessment than prescribed ageing times. Grande Reserva sits above Reserva, indicating even higher quality.