Serving wine: Portuguese terms explained
If you’re in hosting a dinner with Portuguese friends, eating great food, and serving wine you’ve probably kept listening to the same Portuguese words. This article aims to explain and give context to some of them. Do you know what is a garrafa? Rolha sure sounds similar to rótulo, find out why! Discover the differences between these terms and – prepare yourself – you’ll also find the words’ etymology. This is about to get really nerdy!
Disclaimer: I see myself as the Jon Snow of Portuguese wines: “I know nothing”. The same applies to etymology and its peculiar science, I know absolutely nothing. Blame Wikipedia if you find something shady or wrong. But do get in touch and let me know!
Garrafa: Bottle
Etymology: From Arabic origin غُرْفَة (ġurfẗ), from غرف (ġarafa, “to serve”) or from Persian قرابه (qarrâbah). You can read more about this topic in the Wictionary.
Gargalo: Bottleneck
Etymology: Uncertain origin.
Rolha: Cork stopper
Etymology: From Latin rotula, the diminutive form of rota (“wheel”), meaning small wheel.
Rótulo: Label
Etymology: From Latin rotulus, that also derives from rotula, in this case meaning roll, as in a roll of parchment or papyrus that was written on to make a permanent record. Source Wictionary.
Contra-rótulo: Back label
Etymology: From Latin contra, adverb contrā (“against”, “opposite to”, “contrary to”, “otherwise”, “in return”, “back”).
Saca-rolhas: Corkscrew
Third-person singular present tense of sacar. In Portuguese, sacar means to withdraw, pull out. Be careful not to confuse it with saca (“bag”).
Copo: Glass
Etymology: From Latin cūpa (“tub, cask, large bawl”).
Cálice: Chalice or Goblet
Etymology: from Latin calix (“mug”), borrowed from Greek κύλιξ (“kulix”, “cup”) or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning. Wikipedia. In Portugal, this type of cup is used to drink fortified wines like Port and Madeira.
Decantador: Decanter
From French décanter, from Medieval Latin dēcanthāre, from dē- + canthus (“beak of a cup or jug”).
Depósito: Sediment
The broader meaning refers to deposit, depository, tank, warehouse. Etymology: from Latin dēpositō, dative masculine singular of dēpositus. Dēpositus, the perfect passive participle of dēpōnō. Dēpōnō from dē- (“of; from, away from”) + pōnō (“place, put”).
Serving wine can be a bit tricky. I hope this article can help you to manage it while you have a great time. Any doubt or suggestion? Feel free to drop a line in the comment box below.
