Italian Wine Label Glossary

Term Definition
   
Abboccato Slightly sweet
Amabile "Gently"sweet
Amaro Bitter, very dry
Annata Vintage year
Asciutto Bone dry
Barrique Small 225l oak barrel
Botte Very large oak vat
Cantina Sociale Growers' cooperative
Casa Vinicola Wine firm
Cerasuolo Cherry pink
Chiaretto Pale red, almost pink
Classico Heart of a DOC area
Consorzio Growers' association
Cru Vinyard site
DOC Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Dolce Very sweet
Frizzante Lightly sparkling
Imbottigliato Bottled
Liquoroso Sweet, usually fortified
Locality Single vineyard site
Passito Wine from dried grapes
Riserva Specially selected wines
Rosato Pink, rose
Rosso Red
Secco Dry
Spumante Fully sparkling
Superiore Higher standard
Uvaggio Wine from mix of grapes
Vecchio Old
Vigna, Vigneto Single vinyard site
Vino da Tavola Table wine category