Lagar

What is a lagar?

A lagar is a shallow stone or concrete tank used for crushing and fermenting grapes, traditionally by foot. The plural is lagares or lagars.

Lagar meaning and definition in wine

In Portuguese winemaking, the definition of a lagar is a specialized treading tank designed so workers can step on grapes gently, breaking the skins without crushing the bitter seeds. This method is especially associated with Port wine in the Douro Valley.

What is a lagar used for?

A lagar helps extract color, flavor, and tannin from grape skins during the early stages of winemaking. Traditional lagares are shallow and rectangular, making foot-treading practical; modern versions may include temperature control, drainage, or mechanical plungers.

Lagares vs lagars

You may see both lagares and lagars as plural forms in English wine writing. Lagares follows the Portuguese plural; lagars is an English-style plural.