Reserva
/reˈseɾβa/
classification, aging, oak, labeling, spain, portugal, quality-tier, regulation, marketing-term, old-world, new-world•Last updated January 13, 2026
Reserva is a quality and aging designation, especially in Spain and Portugal, indicating a wine that has been held back ("reserved") for longer maturation before release, often under stricter legal standards than basic wines from the same region. It usually signals extended aging in oak, bottle, or both, and is commonly associated with greater complexity, development, and a higher position in a producer’s range.
Examples
- A Rioja Reserva red must typically age at least three years, including at least one year in oak barrels, resulting in a wine with developed notes of dried cherry, vanilla, and gentle tannins compared with a younger Crianza.
- A Douro Reserva Tinto from Portugal may come from lower-yielding vineyards and riper grapes, sometimes with additional aging, marking it as a higher-quality, more structured wine than the estate’s basic Douro bottling.
- A California winery might label its best barrel selection as a "Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon," indicating a top-tier, often longer-aged wine, even though the term is not legally defined there.