On Italian wine labels, do the words ‘Classico' or ‘Riserva' mean better quality?

Irish Times

27-04-2025

The word 'classico' on a label means the
wine
comes from the original or classic region within a wine area. In the past, the boundaries of some of
the most famous regions
were extended to include the surrounding area as producers sought to use the more prestigious name to help sell their wine. As these wines came from inferior vineyards, the wines were not always as good.
Take Chianti, for example. It is one of the most historic and famous wine regions of all. With documentation going back to the 13th century, the original Chianti included just six towns, all owned by wealthy nobles from Siena or Florence. But over the centuries, as demand grew, it came to include a much larger area surrounding the original region. Some were of very dubious quality. Older readers may remember the cheap Chianti that was bottled in fiasci, straw-covered bottles. Eventually, producers in the original area were permitted to use the term Classico. Chianti Classico bottles will have a black cockerel, or Gallo Nero, sticker on the neck of the bottle.
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Chianti is not the only region to have a Classico sub-zone; two other well-known regions, Soave and Valpolicella, have one too. In most cases, but not all, a wine from the Classico region will be better.
Reserva in Spain is regulated, but Riserva in Italian wine is less clear. It simply means a wine with higher alcohol that has been aged for a longer period before release. This can be a good thing, but not all Riserva wines are better.
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Like Riserva, Superiore sounds great. But really, it means a wine that is slightly higher in alcohol and sometimes made according to local regulations. Some Superiori are very good, others less so.