So what exactly does STRAVECCHIO mean on a wine label?

Haunting the wine graveyards and hospices, I’ve come across a few bottles of Italian wine marked “Stravecchio” and sometimes “Stravecchio Riserva.” Exactly what does this mean? Is it different from special reserve (riserva speciale)?

Interestingly, it’s popped up on a few different wines, mostly Chianti, but also on Gattinara, Marsala, and even Brandy. If anyone knows the low-down, please share.

Thanks and Cheers! [cheers.gif]

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  • Frank

Very Old.

I don’t think it has any official meaning such as with riserva.

Thanks, Henry!

I wonder if it is just a marketing gimmick or is something along the lines of a library release. After all, they wouldn’t know it was “very old” unless they labeled it late in life…

Cheers!

  • Frank [cheers.gif]

Hi Frank,

Hard to say, as it has no “legal” meaning.

Frescobaldi’s page:

I think it’s dialect or shorthand for Extravecchio (pronounced ek-stra-vecchio), with the first syllable dropped.

That construction isn’t necessarily dialect or informal contraction; straordinario (extraordinary), stracotto (overcooked), etc. are legitimate words.

You sometimes see Stravecchio noted on bottles of grappa.

It’s defined here, for wine, as aged or mature. In my experience this is a pretty good online dictionary.

That construction isn’t necessarily dialect or informal contraction; straordinario (extraordinary), stracotto (overcooked), etc. are legitimate words."

The prefix in english “extra” is just ‘stra’ in Italian. “Vecchio” means old. 1 + 1 =2 …

Thanks, all! Those definitions are helpful. I think I’ll pop one or two and see what they are about.

Cheers!

  • Frank [cheers.gif]