🍷 Abboccato
Also known as: semi-dry (abboccato), off-dry Italian wine
Italian word for a lightly sweet wine.
Abboccato is an Italian word for wine with a light sweetness. It is written on the label and shows that the wine is not dry but not truly sweet either. It is a semi-dry wine with a little residual sugar, more than in a dry wine, which softens the taste.
The word comes from an Italian expression meaning with a soft mouth. In Italy, next to it stands amabile, a sweeter wine, and sweeter still are wines called dolce. These words let a buyer know in advance what to expect: abboccato is what English calls off-dry or semi-dry. European Union rules define which amount of sugar corresponds to which word, but the Italian words on labels remain traditional.
Abboccato belongs to semi-dry wines, as does amabile, similar in style, and to Italian wine in general. Such wines suit light starters, cheeses and spicy dishes. They are best served chilled. Italians sometimes use the word for wines that taste soft because of fruity aroma.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Abboccato → made in → 🗺️ Italian wine → kind of → 🗺️ Wines of Europe → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Medium-dry wine
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Medium-dry wine, 🍷 Amabile
Frequently asked questions
What does abboccato mean on an Italian wine label?
A wine with light sweetness, semi-dry: not dry but not truly sweet either.
Is it true that abboccato means a dry wine?
No. It has a little residual sugar, more than a dry wine, which softens the taste.
How do abboccato, amabile and dolce differ?
Amabile is usually sweeter than abboccato, and dolce is sweeter still.
Similar
🍷 Feinherb · 🍷 Halbtrocken · 🍷 Dolce · 🍷 Medium-sweet wine · 🍷 Col fondo · 🍷 Marsala Vergine
⚠️ 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.