The Language Of Portugal

Adamado - Sweet. Adega - Cellar, winery Branco - White. Carvalho - Oak. Clarete - Light red wine. Colheita - Vintage. DOC (Denominacao de Origem Controlada) - Portugal's new appellation system which replaced the old RD. Dolce - Sweet Engarrafado na Origem - Estate bottled Espumante - Sparkling Garrafeira - A wine made from one or more areas and matured for 3 year including one in bottle if red, and for one year including 6 months in bottle if white. Wines must bear a vintage date and have 0.5 per cent alcohol above the minimum. Often, the garrafeira is the "private reserve" of the merchant. IPR (Indicacao de Proviencia Regulamentada) - The second layer of Portugal's New DOC appellation system. Licoroso - Sweet fortified wine. Maduro - Matured (in vat). Quinta - Farm. RD (Regiao Demarcada) - Now defunct appellation system, replaced by DOC. Reserva - A wine from one or several areas from an outstanding vintage. It must contain 0.5 per cent alcohol above the minimum. Rosado - Rose. Seco - Dry. Tinto - Red. Velho - Old. Reds must be over 3 years old, whites over 2 years old before they may use the term on the label. Verde - Young, "green" (as in Vinho Verde). Vinho consumo - Ordinary wine Vinho generoso - Fortified aperitif or dessert wine Vinho de mesa - Table wine. Vinhos Regionaos - Roughly equivalent to the French vins de pays.