vinho regional (VR)

[VEE-nyoo rree-zhyoo-NAHL] A regional designation for Portuguese wine quality with a connotation similar to that of the French vin de pays. Vinho regional is the third level in the Portuguese quality hierarchy-below the denominação de origem controlada (doc) and the indicação de proveniencia regulamentada (ipr) and above the vinho de mesa (vdm) category. Some producers are opting to use "vinho regional" labeling in order to take advantage of less stringent rules, such as those for the use of grape varieties not allowed by DOCs or IPRs and permission to use varietal names on wine labels. The current Portuguese vinho regional designates are alentejo, Algrave, beiras, estremadura, madeira Rios do Minho, ribatejo, terras do sado and Trás-os-Montes.