🍷 Agulha
The Portuguese name for a light spritz in wine, as in young Vinho Verde.
Agulha is a Portuguese word meaning 'needle'. In Portugal it describes a light spritz in wine: tiny bubbles that gently prickle the tongue like little needles. A wine with agulha is not sparkling but rather semi-sparkling or almost still.
This spritz is most often found in young Vinho Verde from northern Portugal. In the past it appeared naturally: the wine was bottled while it still held a little carbon dioxide from fermentation. Today many simple Vinho Verde wines get their light spritz from a small addition of carbon dioxide at bottling.
Agulha makes wine feel fresh and lively, which is why it is popular served cold in summer. It is not an official category like DOC but a traditional description of style. Portuguese wine also has true semi-sparkling wines with their own pressure rules, but agulha usually refers to just a slight tingle.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Semi-sparkling wine
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Portuguese wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Semi-sparkling wine, 🏷️ DOC (Portugal)
Frequently asked questions
What does agulha mean in wine?
It is a light spritz, tiny bubbles that prickle the tongue. The Portuguese word means 'needle'.
Which wine has agulha?
Most often young Vinho Verde from northern Portugal.
Is a wine with agulha a sparkling wine?
No. It has only a few bubbles and is closer to a semi-sparkling or almost still wine.
Similar
🍷 Aerated semi-sparkling wine · 🍷 Pétillant · 🍷 Perlwein · 🍷 Frizzante · 🍷 Perlant · 🍷 Lambrusco
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.