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What does Reserva mean?
In Spainreserva is an additional designation for quality wines that correspond to the protected designations of origin DO (Denominación de Origen) or DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada) or DOP (Denominación de Origen Protegida). Reserva wines have matured longer than the wines in question without the additional designation: a total of at least 36 months, of which at least twelve months in wooden barrels.
In Portugal reserva is an additional designation for quality wines that correspond to the protected designation of origin DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) or DOP (Denominação de Origem Protegida). Here, too, Reserva wines have a longer maturation behind them than the wines in question without the additional designation: red wines at least three years, white wines at least one year.
In South America, too, there are regulations for wines with the designation Reserva. They also refer to the duration of the maturity or to the alcohol content. In Chile reserva stands for a wine that has at least 0.5 percent alcohol by volume more than the legally prescribed minimum. Other quality levels based on this are Reserva Especial (alcohol content at least 0.5 percent by volume above the legal minimum and aged in wooden barrels), Reserva Privada (alcohol content at least 1 percent by volume above the legal minimum) and Gran Reserva (alcohol content at least 1 percent by volume above the legal minimum and aged in wooden barrels). In Argentina the designation Reserva again depends on the length of maturation: Reserva red wines must mature in the cellar for at least twelve months, Reserva white and rosé wines for at least six months. As Gran Reserva, a red wine must mature in the cellar for at least two years, a white or rosé wine for at least one year. In addition, for Argentine Reservas and Gran Reservas, the ratio between the quantity of grapes and wine as well as the permitted grape varieties are specified.