Vinum regum, rex vinorum
“Wine of kings, king of wines.”
Traditional Latin saying
What does “Vinum regum, rex vinorum” mean?
Vinum regum, rex vinorum translates as “Wine of kings, king of wines.”
A phrase of praise for a supreme wine. It is used for Hungarian Tokaji, and more loosely for any wine of distinction.
“Vinum regum, rex vinorum” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Vinum | wine | nominative singular neuter of vinum, “wine”; the subject word of the phrase |
| regum | of kings | genitive plural (possessive) of rex, “king” |
| rex | king | nominative singular masculine of rex, “king”; stands in apposition, as a title |
| vinorum | of wines | genitive plural (possessive) of vinum, “wine” |
How to pronounce “Vinum regum, rex vinorum”
The main differences are v (w in Classical, v in Church) and the g in regum (hard g in Classical, j before e in Church). Stress falls on the first syllable of vinum and regum, and on the second-to-last syllable of vinorum.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase reads “wine of kings, king of wines”. It is a Latin saying of the early modern period, built as a neat mirror: the same words, kings and wines, turned around in the second half.
Tradition links it to Tokaji, the sweet Hungarian wine, and credits the praise to King Louis XIV of France. That attribution is popular rather than documented, so it is best repeated as a story and not as a fact.
The line lives on today in the wine trade. It appears on Tokaji labels and promotional material, and it is sometimes borrowed for any wine thought to deserve a royal title.
How to use “Vinum regum, rex vinorum”
Suits a label, a gift card with a bottle of fine wine, a sommelier’s chalkboard or a toast at a tasting. It fits best when the wine is truly special, since the phrase is a claim of supremacy.
- Latin
- Vinum regum, rex vinorum
- English
- Wine of kings, king of wines.
- Source
- Traditional Latin saying
- Era
- Early modern
- Theme
- Wine
Common mistakes
- Do not credit the line to Louis XIV as established fact. The link is a popular tradition, not a documented quotation.
- Regum and vinorum are genitive plurals (“of kings”, “of wines”). Writing regem or vinos would change the meaning.
- The phrase is not tied to Tokaji alone in its wording. The Tokaji link comes from tradition and use, not from the Latin itself.
Questions about “Vinum regum, rex vinorum”
What does “Vinum regum, rex vinorum” mean literally?
“Wine of kings, king of wines.” Regum is “of kings” and vinorum is “of wines”, both plural possessives.
Who said “Vinum regum, rex vinorum”?
Tradition credits Louis XIV of France, speaking of Tokaji, but this is popular lore and not documented. Treat it as a traditional Latin saying.
How do you pronounce “Vinum regum, rex vinorum”?
Classically: WEE-noom RAY-goom rex wee-NOH-room. In Church Latin: VEE-noom REH-joom rex vee-NOH-room.
Is “Vinum regum, rex vinorum” correct Latin for a label or tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound: two genitive plurals around a nominative singular. It is a balanced, symmetrical phrase.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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