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In the U.S., the term “Reserve” on a wine label is not legally regulated. It can just be a marketing term to get consumer to believe the wine is somehow better than others. Or, it can actually mean that the winery has indeed gone above and beyond with higher quality grapes, longer aging or limited production. So, it’s buyer beware.
But, in Spain, the term "Reserva" is a legally regulated classification that indicates both minimum aging requirements and often a higher quality level compared to standard wines.
The term “Reserva” is regulated under Spanish wine laws (Denominación de Origen - DO, or Denominación de Origen Calificada - DOCa). A “Reserva” wine usually implies better grape selection and greater aging potential than a standard wine.
It should also be noted that “Reserva” is considered a step above "Crianza" and a step below "Gran Reserva" in aging hierarchy:
For Red (“Tinta”) wines:
Crianza = 2 years minimum aging with 1 year in oak
Reserva = 3 years minimum aging with 1 year in oak
Gran Reserva = 5 years total aging with 2 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle
So, next time you’re shopping for a Spanish wine, be sure to pay attention to the label. There are real differences. Cheers!