The background to Italian wine Wine Laws Wine regions Grape varieties Reading An Italian Wine Label Zones and quality grades Producers and vineyards Style and quality The Language Of Italy The Essentials Of Italy Cities

Riserva or vecchio describes wine that is DOC or DOCG and has been aged for longer period than most in cask or bottle or both. Superiore usually means the wine has a higher alcohol content (or a little extra ageing) than the standard DOC wine. Classico refers to a restricted zone, usually the heart of a wine area. Novello is a new wine (as in the French nouveau).

Secco means dry, abboccato describes gently sweet wine, amabile sweeter, and liquoroso a true dessert wine which is always fortified.

Frizzante wine is lightly sparkling, spumante is a true sparkling wine. If made by the secondary fermentation in bottle method it may be labelled metodo tradizionale or methodo classico.