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Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce wine label and classification terms

The small print on a label tells you where a wine comes from, how long it was aged and how ripe the grapes were. This page gathers the French, Italian, Spanish, German and English classification terms so you can read any back label aloud.

32 terms. Each has native audio, IPA, an easy respelling and the meaning on its own page.

The French appellation terms are long but regular: Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée is ah-peh-lah-SYOHN doh-ree-ZHEEN kohn-troh-LAY, and the EU equivalents (AOP, IGP) follow the same pattern. Italian uses Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and adds “e Garantita” for DOCG. Spanish ageing terms go Joven, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva, in increasing order of time in oak and bottle.

Germany classifies by grape ripeness: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein. All take the stress on the first syllable, and “Prädikatswein” is the umbrella term. Vieilles Vignes (vee-AY VEEN-yuh) simply means old vines.

  1. Appellation d'origine contrôlée ah-peh-lah-SYOHN doh-ree-ZHEEN kohn-troh-LAY French · The traditional French system of controlled designations of origin, abbreviated AOC. Established in 1935, it regulates wine production including permitted grape varieties, yields, winemaking methods, and geographic boundaries. Though largely replaced by AOP under EU harmonization, the AOC designation remains widely used on French wine labels.
  2. Appellation d'origine protégée ah-peh-lah-SYOHN doh-ree-ZHEEN proh-teh-ZHAY French · The EU-wide designation for wines of protected origin, abbreviated AOP, replacing the French AOC under 2009 EU wine regulation harmonization. It certifies that a wine is produced, processed, and prepared within a specific geographical area using recognized methods.
  3. Indication géographique protégée an-dee-kah-SYOHN zhay-oh-grah-FEEK proh-teh-ZHAY French · The EU-wide designation for wines with protected geographical indication, abbreviated IGP, replacing the French Vin de Pays classification under 2009 EU regulations. IGP wines have fewer restrictions than AOP/AOC wines on grape varieties and winemaking methods, allowing producers greater creative freedom while guaranteeing regional origin.
  4. Vin de pays VAN duh pay-EE French · A French wine classification meaning country wine, now officially replaced by IGP under EU regulations but still widely used on labels. Vin de Pays wines are produced under less restrictive rules than AOC/AOP, allowing greater flexibility in grape varieties and winemaking techniques while maintaining regional identity.
  5. Grand cru classé GRAHN KROO klah-SAY French · A classification term used in Bordeaux to denote estates ranked in one of the region's official classifications. The most famous is the 1855 Médoc Classification ranking estates into five growths. Saint-Émilion has its own periodically revised classification. The term signifies historically recognized quality and prestige.
  6. Vieilles vignes vee-AY VEEN-yuh French · A French term meaning old vines, commonly found on wine labels to indicate the wine was produced from mature grapevines. Although unregulated in France, it generally implies vines of at least 35-50 years of age. Older vines produce smaller yields of more concentrated fruit, resulting in wines of greater depth.
  7. Denominazione di Origine Controllata deh-noh-mee-nah-tsee-OH-neh dee oh-REE-jee-neh kon-trohl-LAH-tah /denominatˈtsjoːne di oˈriːdʒine kontrolˈlaːta/ Italian · Italian quality wine designation (DOC) with regulated production methods and geographic origin.
  8. Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita deh-noh-mee-nah-tsee-OH-neh dee oh-REE-jee-neh kon-trohl-LAH-tah eh gah-rahn-TEE-tah /denominatˈtsjoːne di oˈriːdʒine kontrolˈlaːta e ɡaranˈtiːta/ Italian · Highest Italian quality wine designation (DOCG) with stricter regulations than DOC.
  9. Indicazione Geografica Tipica in-dee-kah-tsee-OH-neh jeh-oh-GRAH-fee-kah TEE-pee-kah /indikatˈtsjoːne dʒeoˈɡraːfika ˈtiːpika/ Italian · Italian quality wine designation (IGT) between table wine and DOC with geographic indication.
  10. Riserva ree-ZAIR-vah /riˈzɛrva/ Italian · Reserve wine in Italy indicating extended aging beyond standard DOC requirements.
  11. Denominación de Origen deh-noh-mee-nah-thee-OHN deh oh-REE-hen /denominaˈθjon de oˈɾixen/ Spanish · Spanish quality wine designation (DO) with regulated production methods and geographic origin.
  12. Denominación de Origen Calificada deh-noh-mee-nah-thee-OHN deh oh-REE-hen kah-lee-fee-KAH-dah /denominaˈθjon de oˈɾixen kalifiˈkaða/ Spanish · Highest Spanish quality wine designation (DOCa) currently only for Rioja and Priorat.
  13. Vino de la Tierra VEE-noh deh lah tee-AIR-ah Spanish · The Spanish equivalent of the French Vin de Pays or EU IGP designation, meaning wine of the land. It indicates wine from a specific geographic area produced under less restrictive regulations than DO, allowing winemakers more freedom with grape varieties and techniques while maintaining regional provenance.
  14. Joven HOH-ven Spanish · A Spanish wine classification meaning young, indicating wines released without oak aging or with minimal time in barrel. Joven wines are designed for immediate consumption, emphasizing fresh, vibrant fruit character. This style is common across Spanish wine regions, from Rioja to Navarra.
  15. Crianza kree-AHN-thah /kriˈanθa/ Spanish · Spanish aging designation for wine aged minimum 2 years with 6 months in oak.
  16. Reserva reh-SAIR-vah /reˈserβa/ Spanish · Spanish aging designation for wine aged minimum 3 years with 1 year in oak.
  17. Gran Reserva grahn reh-SAIR-vah /ɡɾan reˈserβa/ Spanish · Spanish aging designation for wine aged minimum 5 years with 18 months in oak.
  18. Prädikatswein pray-dee-KAHTS-vine /pʁɛdiˈkaːtsvaɪn/ German · German quality wine category with ripeness-based classifications from Kabinett to Trockenbeerenauslese.
  19. Qualitätswein kvah-lee-TAYTS-vine /kvaliˈtɛːtsvaɪn/ German · German quality wine category above table wine allowing chaptalization.
  20. Landwein LAHNT-vine German · A German wine classification equivalent to the French Vin de Pays or EU IGP, indicating wines from a specific regional area with fewer restrictions than Qualitätswein. Landwein must come from one of 26 designated regions and can be dry or off-dry, representing Germany's intermediate quality tier.
  21. Kabinett kah-bee-NET /kabiˈnɛt/ German · German Prädikat for wine from fully ripened grapes the lightest category of Prädikatswein.
  22. Spätlese SHPAYT-lay-zuh /ˈʃpɛːtleːzə/ German · A German Prädikat (quality designation) meaning late harvest, indicating grapes picked after the normal harvest at higher ripeness levels. Spätlese wines can range from dry to sweet, with greater body and intensity than Kabinett. Riesling Spätlese is particularly celebrated for its balance of fruit richness and refreshing acidity.
  23. Auslese OUS-lay-zuh /ˈaʊsleːzə/ German · German Prädikat for wine from selected bunches of very ripe grapes.
  24. Beerenauslese BEAR-en-OUS-lay-zuh /ˈbeːʁənˌaʊsleːzə/ German · German Prädikat for sweet wine from individually selected overripe grapes often affected by noble rot.
  25. Trockenbeerenauslese TROK-en-bear-en-OUS-lay-zuh /ˈtʁɔkənbeːʁənˌaʊsleːzə/ German · German Prädikat for intensely sweet wine from individually selected dried grapes affected by noble rot.
  26. Eiswein ICE-vine /ˈaɪsvaɪn/ German · Ice wine made from grapes frozen on the vine concentrating sugars and acidity.
  27. Trocken TROK-en /ˈtʁɔkən/ German · Dry style in German wine with maximum 9 g/L residual sugar.
  28. Halbtrocken HALP-trok-en /ˈhalpˌtʁɔkən/ German · Half-dry style in German wine with 9-18 g/L residual sugar.
  29. Protected Designation of Origin proh-TEK-ted dez-ig-NAY-shun uv OR-ih-jin English · The English-language term for the EU's highest quality wine classification, abbreviated PDO. It corresponds to the French AOP, Italian DOC/DOCG, and Spanish DO/DOCa. PDO wines must be produced, processed, and prepared entirely within a defined geographical area using recognized local methods.
  30. Protected Geographical Indication proh-TEK-ted jee-oh-GRAF-ih-kul in-dih-KAY-shun English · The English-language term for the EU's second-tier quality wine classification, abbreviated PGI. It corresponds to the French IGP, German Landwein, and Italian IGT. PGI wines must be produced within a defined geographic area but have greater flexibility in grape varieties and winemaking methods than PDO wines.
  31. Old vine OHLD VINE English · A term used to describe wines made from grapevines of considerable age, typically 35 years or older, though there is no universal legal definition. Old vines naturally produce lower yields of smaller, more concentrated berries, resulting in wines of greater depth, complexity, and intensity.
  32. Vintage VIN-tij English · The year in which the grapes for a wine were harvested, printed on the label. Vintage variation, the differences between years caused by weather, is a key concept in wine appreciation, particularly in cooler climates. The term also broadly refers to the harvest season itself and, in Port, to the finest declared wines of exceptional years.

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