Glossary of Wine Terms
The world of wine come complete with its own vocabulary. There are terms about making wine. There are term about the wine itself. There is even a whole vocabulary of wine tasting terminology. Many of these words and phrases are commonly used and would be familiar to most. Others are more arcane and unfamiliar. Wine terminology also contains many non-English terms. Fret not, for here you will find an ever expanding glossary of wine terms to help you navigate your way through the world of wine.
Wine term starting with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
| aftertaste |
Wine tasting term. Refers to the taste left on the palate after the wine is swallowed. May also be referred to as "finish".
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| angel's share |
Wine making term. Refers to the amount of wine that evaporates during barrel aging.
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| barrel aging |
Wine making term. Refers to the period of time that a wine is allowed to mature in wooden barrels typically made of oak.
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| blanc de noirs |
Wine term. Refers to a white wine made from red wine grapes. It is usually sparkling.
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| blanc de blanc |
Wine term. Refers to a white wine made from white grapes. It is usually sparkling.
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| capsule |
Wine term. Refers to the plastic, foil, or lead covering over the neck of the wine bottle covering the cork.
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| chaptalization |
Wine making term. The process of adding sugar to the must to create a wine with a higher alcohol content.
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| claret |
Wine term. British term for wine from Bordeaux, France.
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| clarification |
Wine making term. The process of fining or filtration to remove suspended solids to clarify a wine.
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| corked |
Wine tasting term. Refers to the bad taste and aromas in wine that come from mold growth on the wine bottles cork enclosure. Although the wine may be unpleasant or virtually undrinkable due to the smell and taste, it is actually harmless.
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| decanting |
Wine serving term. The process of pouring wine from the bottle into a decanter. See: Decanting Wine.
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| demi-sec |
Wine term. Moderately to medium sweet sparkling wines.
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| DOC |
Wine term. Abbreviation for the Italian phrase Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which means "controlled place name." DOC wines have their names, grape origins, grape varieties, and other factors regulated by Italian law.
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| DOCG |
Wine term. Abbreviation for the Italian phrase Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, which means "controlled and guaranteed place". This is Italy's highest-ranking wine designation.
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| finish |
Wine tasting term. Refers to the taste left on the palate after the wine is swallowed. May also be referred to as "aftertaste".
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| fining |
Wine making term. A wine making process where substances known as flocculants are added to the wine to remove suspended solids helping to clarify the wine. Typical flocculants are bentonite and egg whites. Also see clarification.
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| lees |
Wine making term. Lees refers to the sediment of dead and residual yeast that settles to the bottom of a vat or barrel of wine after fermentation and aging. The lees may be carried to the bottom of the vat by the action of fining. Wine that is aged on its lees for some time is referred to as sur lie.
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| Meritage |
Wine term. Meritage is a term used to refer to a red or white wine that is made of a blend of grapes. Red Meritage is typically made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or Malbec. White Meritage is typically made from Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Vert or Semillon. Red Meritage is often referred to as a Bordeaux-like blend or American Bordeaux. The term was coined in California.
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| Mis en bouteille au château |
Wine making term. French term meaning "bottled at the winery".
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| must |
Wine making term. Freshly pressed grapes including the grape skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit.
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| sur lie |
Wine making term. Sure lie literally means on lees. It refers to the wine that is allowed to age some time on the yeasty residue of fermentation, or wine that is bottled off of the lees without racking. Wine that is sur lie has a yeasty aroma and taste or creaminess.
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