Wine A-Z -Wine Glossary

Wine Glossary

Abbreviations, definitions and wine related words. With information on grapes.

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Albariño - a white grape with tastes o f lemon, minerals.

AOC - Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC), which translates as "term of controlled origin" is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products. This sets the rules for what wines can be made from what grapes.

Acidity - the sharpness in wine

Aerating - introducing air into the wine during production

Aroma - the smell of wine

Brandy is a distilled wine.

Blanc de Noirs where the juice of red grapes are allowed contact with the skins for a very short time (usually only a couple of hours). Blanc de noirs is a form of rosé

Blush - A white wine made from a very dark grape may appear pink or 'blush'.

Breidecker - a white grape with tastes of apple, pear.

Balance - the balance of wine is dependent on acid, tannin, alcohol, fruit and flavour

Blend - mixture of grape varieties

Bouquet - another word for smell of wine

Breath - leaving a wine in contact with air for a time before drinking it

Botrytis cinerea - "noble rot" - super concentrates juice and gives distinctive flavour

Cooper: Someone who makes wooden barrels, casks, and other similar wooden objects.

champagne is legally defined as sparkling wine originating from a region in France ( In most countries except the United States, )

Cabernet Franc - a red grape - with tastes of tobacco, green bell pepper, raspberry, new-mown grass.

Cabernet Sauvignon - a red wine - with tastes of blackcurrants, chocolate, tobacco.

Chenin Blanc - a white grape with tastes of wet wool, beeswax, honey, apple, almond.

Chardonnay - a white grape with tastes of butter, melon, apple, pineapple, vanilla (if oaked, eg vinified or aged in new oak aging barrels)

Corked - wine fault - musty odour NOT bits of cork floating in it.

Decanting - pouring wine from the bottle into a jug or decanter prior to drinking

Enology - The science and study of wine and winemaking. Also spelled oenology.

Fortified wines are often sweeter, and generally more alcoholic wines that have had their fermentation process stopped by the addition of a spirit, such as brandy, or have had additional spirit added after fermentation.

Fermentation - the process of sugar turning into alcohol

Full bodied wine - wine which has high level of fruit concentration and alcohol

Grappa is a dry colorless brandy, distilled from fermented grape pomace, the pulpy residue of grapes, stems and seeds that were pressed for the winemaking process.

Gamay - a red wine with tastes of pomegranate, strawberry, red fruits.

Grenache a red wine with tastes of smoky, pepper, raspberry

Grüner Veltliner - a white grape with tastes of green apple, citrus.

Gewürztraminer - a white grape with tastes of rose petals, lychee, spice.

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Leach - tannins in oak soak into the wine

Malbec - a red wine - with tastes of violet, fruit

Merlot - a red grape with tastes of black cherry, plums, tomato.

Mourvèdre - a red grape with tastes of thyme, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, violet, blackberry.

Marsanne - a white grape with tastes of almond, honeysuckle, marzipan.

Melon de Bourgogne - a white grape with tastes of lime, salt, green apple.

Muscat - a white grape with tastes of honey, grapes, lime.

Mouthfeel - how the wine feels in the mouth, its weight, body and texture

Négociant: A wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers, and sells them under his own name.

Nebbiolo - a red grape with tastes of leather, tar, stewed prunes, chocolate, liquorice, roses.

Norton - a red grape with tastes of red fruit, elderberries.

New World - countries new to producing wine Australia, South Africa, South America, USA, new Zealand

Oenologist: A wine scientist. Often referred to as a winemaker.

Oaked - wine aged in oak barrels

Old world - older wine producing countries - Europe

Oxidised wine which has lost its freshness because of too uch exposure to air

Petite Sirah (Durif) - a red grape with tastes of earthy, black pepper, dark fruits.

Petit Verdot - a red grape with tastes of violets (later)

Pinot Noir - a red grape with tastes of raspberry, cherry, violets, "farmyard" (with age), truffles.

Pinotage - a red grape with tastes of bramble fruits.

Palomino - a white grape with tastes of honeydew, citrus, raw nuts.

Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) - a white grape with tastes of white peach, pear, apricot.

Prosecco - a white grape with tastes of apple, honey, musk, citrus.

Palate - tatse of wine in the mouth

Red wine is made from red (or black) grapes, but its red colour is bestowed by a process called maceration, whereby the skin is left in contact with the juice during fermentation

Riesling - a white grape with tastes of citrus fruits, peach, honey.

Sommelier: A person in a restaurant who specializes in wine. They are usually in charge of assembling the wine list, staff education and making wine suggestions to customers.

Sparkling wines, such as champagne, are those with carbon dioxide, either from fermentation or added later

Syrah (Shiraz) - a red grape with tastes of tobacco, black pepper, blackberry, smoke.

Sangiovese - a red grape with tastes of herbs, black cherry, leathery, earthy.

Sauvignon Blanc - a white grape with tastes of gooseberry, lime, asparagus, cut grass, bell pepper.

Sémillon - a white grape with tastes of honey, orange, lime.

Soft - rounded, fruit wine with low tannin levels

Tempranillo - a red grape with tastes of vanilla, strawberry, tobacco.

Teroldego - a red grape with tastes of spices, chocolate, red Fruits

Tannin - a dry bitterness in wine

Tartrates - harmess crystals found in both red and white wine

Ugni Blanc, also known as Trebbiano - a white grape with tastes of lime, herbs.

Viticulturist: A person who specializes in the science of the grapevines themselves. Can also be someone who manages a vineyard (decides how to prune, how much to irrigate, how to deal with pests

Vintner: A wine merchant or producer.

Viognier - a white grape with tastes of peach, pear, nutmeg, apricot.

Vermentino - a white grape with tastes of pear, cream, green fruits.

Verdicchio - a white grape with tastes of apple, minerals, citrus.

Vintage wines are made from grapes of a single year's harvest, and are dated to show the year. Different countries have different rules on the % of wine that is not from the labeled vintage.

Viticulture - The study of grape growing.

Varietal - wine made from a single grape variety

Vendage Tardive - late harvesting which produces sweetness

Winemaker: A person who makes wine.

White wine can be made from any colour of grape as the skin is separated from the juice during fermentation

Zinfandel - a red grape with tastes of black cherry, pepper, mixed spices, mint.

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Wine Glossary

Wine Glossary

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