Classification of Portuguese wine

The appellation system

Portugal has the oldest appellation system in the world!

The appellation system of the Douro region was created nearly two hundred years before that of France - in order to protect its superior wines from inferior ones.

Portuguese wine regions are grouped into following official designations :

These are the most protected wines with superior quality, and indicates a specific vineyard, such as Port Wine, Vinhos Verdes, and Alentejo Wines.

DOC wines correspond roughly to the French AOC, the Italian DOC and the Spanish DO classifications. As of 2005, there were 19 DOCs in Portugal.

Wines that have more regulations placed upon them, but are not in a DOC region, fall under this category.

This level is similar to the French VDSQ system. As of 2005, there were 29 IPRs.

Carries with it a specific region within Portugal.

VRs are similar to the French Vid de pays. As of 2005, there were 8 VRs

Carries with it only the producer and the designation that it's from Portugal.

• Adega: Winery
• Branco: White
• Casta: Grape variety
• Colheita: Vintage year
• Garrafeira: A reserva red wine aged at least two years in a barrel and one year in a bottle; a white wine aged at least six months in a barrel and six months in a bottle.
• Maduro: mature (in opposition to verde). Mature wines are Portuguese wines produced in all regions except the ones produced in Vinho Verde region, due to that, the term "maduro" rarely appears on bottles.
• Quinta: Vineyard
• Reserva: Superior quality wine of a single vintage
• Seco: Dry
• Tinto: Red
• Verde: Green (in opposition to maduro). Wines produced in Vinho Verde region with a distinctive method.
• Vinho: Wine

Read more about wine in Portugal here.

Read more about the wine-regions in Portugal here.