| There are some basic wine terms that everyone | | | | dry wine may be mildly sweet or not sweet at all. |
| should know before choosing wine to buy or drink. | | | | Fermentation |
| Like most industries, there are certain words | | | | Fermentation is the process during which the |
| which are used as a matter of standard practice. | | | | crushed grapes are combined with yeast so the |
| It is important to understand the terms so you | | | | grape sugar turns into alcohol. |
| know exactly what the wine description is telling | | | | Finish |
| your or so you can describe the wine | | | | The finish of wine is the last impression the wine |
| appropriately. | | | | leaves as you swallow. You may describe a finish |
| Speaking the Language of Wine | | | | as smooth or harsh. |
| Every industry has its own language. The language | | | | Fortified Wine |
| has developed over many years and each word | | | | Fortified wine is wine that has had other alcoholic |
| has a very distinct meaning. In the world of wine, | | | | spirits added. It may contain brandy for example |
| only certain words can accurately describe a wine | | | | and it usually contains higher alcohol content than |
| or an impression after drinking a wine. | | | | unfortified wine. |
| Acidity | | | | Full-Bodied |
| Acidity refers to the acid taste the wine has | | | | A full-bodied wine is one which makes the |
| which is in reference to the sharpness of the | | | | tastebuds feel an intense flavour and can even |
| wine taste. | | | | feel heavy or thick. |
| Aroma | | | | Harsh |
| Aroma is a term used to describe how the wine | | | | A harsh wine is a biting wine that leaves an |
| smells (or ‘bouquet’). The aroma a wine | | | | unpleasant taste in the mouth. It is a wine that |
| has is related to the type of grape or botanical | | | | has too much acid or too much tannin in it. |
| used to make the wine. For example, a wine may | | | | Palate |
| have a flowery aroma or an earthy aroma. | | | | The palate actually refers to the roof of the |
| Balance | | | | mouth and it is where the wine first hits before |
| The term ‘balance’ in the world of wine | | | | inundating the tastebuds on the tongue. |
| alludes to how the many qualities of the wine | | | | Sediment |
| blend together without any single quality | | | | Sediment is the remnant of the grapes or even |
| overwhelming the others. It can also be used to | | | | yeast used in the production process. In high |
| define the pairing of the wine with food. Balance is | | | | quality wines sediment is kept to a minimum. |
| another word for the harmony of the various | | | | Tannin |
| wine elements. | | | | Tannin is a substance found naturally in the grape |
| Body (Weight) | | | | seeds and stems. Tannins can make a wine taste |
| The body or weight of the wine is the texture | | | | very dry or bitter unless properly managed by |
| you feel on your tongue or in your mouth while | | | | the winemaker. Tannins can cause the mouth to |
| drinking the wine. | | | | pucker. Over time, as wine ages, tannins will |
| Breathe | | | | mellow. |
| When you let wine breathe, it means you are | | | | Varietal |
| exposing the air to oxygen. For example, when | | | | A wine labelled as varietal is one made with a |
| you open a bottle of wine, the air mixes with the | | | | dominant grape variety. The name of the wine |
| wine. | | | | usually indicates the name of the varietal grape. |
| Decant | | | | This makes it easy to read a wine label and |
| The term decant can mean one of two things. It | | | | identify the varietal grape. |
| refers to pouring the wine out of the bottle into a | | | | Vintage |
| different container. It can also refer to pouring the | | | | The vintage of wine is the year the grape was |
| wine slowly so the sediment is not disturbed. In | | | | harvested. |
| the first case you are allowing the wine to | | | | These are just the main terms used to describe |
| breathe and in the second case you are | | | | wine. There are many others, but if you know |
| preserving the clarity. | | | | these basic terms you can speak the language of |
| Dry | | | | wine. |
| Dry wine is wine that has very little sugar in it. A | | | | |