The Wine Tours Project

Wine Words

Send The Wine Tours Project a wine word and definition.

ACIDIC

A tart taste or sour taste.

AGGRESSIVE

Overly harsh or acidic taste.

AMERICAN OAK

Instead of French oak, used to make barrels where wine is aged. Imparts a strong vanilla, oak/cedar flavor.

APPELLATION

Defines the area where a wine's grapes were grown, in France.

AROMA

The smell of the wine, more or less inter-changable with Bouquet .

AUSTERE

A flat, acidic wine.

BALANCED

A pleasing combination of characteristics.

BARREL FERMENTED

Wine fermented in small casks or oak barrels, mostly used for white wines. The alternative is large metal tanks.

BITE

An acidic flavor, not always bad, but too much is too much.

BODY

Usually full-bodied, medium-bodied or light-bodied. A general impression combining acidic, sweet and alchohol-related reactions.

BOTRYTIS CINEREA

"Noble Rot" - a beneficial mold that attacks grapes under certain conditions, causing grapes to shrivel, concentrating the sugar and acid. Sauternes are a product of these grapes.

BOUQUET

The aroma of a wine, beyond simple fruitiness.

BRUT

A relatively dry Champagne or sparkling wine, often the driest wine.

CLEAN

No unexpected flavors, which can be disappointing.

COMPLEXITY

Not clean or flat , interesting to drink.

DECANTING

Separates the sediment from the drinkable liquid by carefully pouring off the liquid into another container or decanter .

DEMI-SEC

slightly sweet to medium sweet Champagnes.

DRY

Apparently lacking sugar content.

EARLY HARVEST

A wine made from early-harvested grapes, often resulting in lower alcoholic content and/or sweetness.

ENOLOGY

The study of winemaking

EXTRA-DRY

A less sweet Champagne.

FERMENTATION

Turning grape juice into wine, with yeast and naturally occuring sugars.

FORTIFIED

Increased alchohol content, from adding brandy, etc.

FRENCH OAK

Twice as expensive as American oak. Used to make barrels.

HALF-BOTTLE

Holds 375 milliliters.

IMPERIAL

4 to 6 liters 8 regular bottles.

JEROBOAM

Approximately 4 liters, or six regular bottles.

LATE HARVEST

Wine made of grapes picked later in the season, may have more sugar than normal. Makes a good dessert wine.

MAGNUM

1.5 liters, or two regular bottles.

MERITAGE

An new term from California denoting Bordeaux-style red and white blended wines, with an emphasis on blended .

NOUVEAU

A light, fruity red wine bottled and sold as soon as possible. Mostly Beaujolais.

PRESSING WINE

The juice extracted under pressure after pressing for white wines and after fermentation for reds, usually with more flavor. Used as a blend with other wines.

RESIDUAL SUGAR

Unfermented naturally occuring sugars in a bottled wine.

TANNIN

A natural preservative that helps wine age and develop. Can be a bit tart.

VINICULTURE

The study of grape production and wine-making.

VINTNER

The wine maker, producer or seller.

VITICULTURE

The study of grapes.