🍷 Agulha
Also known as: spritz, light spritz in wine
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.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Agulha → kind of → 🍷 Semi-sparkling wine → kind of → 🍷 Types of wine → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Semi-sparkling wine
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Portuguese wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Semi-sparkling wine
Frequently asked questions
What does agulha feel like in the glass?
Tiny bubbles that gently prickle the tongue like little needles.
Is agulha an official category like DOC?
No. It is a traditional description of style, not an official category.
Is it true that agulha always comes from natural fermentation?
Not quite. In the past it appeared naturally, but today many simple Vinho Verde wines get it from a small addition of carbon dioxide at bottling.
Similar
🍷 Aerated semi-sparkling wine · 🍷 Pétillant · 🍷 Perlwein · 🍷 Frizzante · 🍷 Perlant · 🍷 Moscato d'Asti
⚠️ 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.