A United States wine labeled “reserve” must:
A. Come from a special selection of lots
B. Come from a superior vineyard site
C. Have been aged a minimum of two years in barrel
D. There is no legal definition of the word reserve
D.
In the U.S., the word “reserve” doesn’t have an agreed-upon definition— at least not a legal definition. Some winemakers set aside their best lots of wine or allow wines to age for an extended period then sell them as higher-end bottlings. But, for other wine companies, the word “reserve” is just a marketing term. In Europe, both Spain and Italy define the terms legally and enforce the labeling of reserve wines.
