Wine Glossary

Master the language of wine. From tannins to terroir, our glossary covers essential terminology to deepen your wine knowledge.

Tasting Terms

10 terms

Tannins

Natural compounds in wine that create a drying, astringent sensation in the mouth.

Bouquet

The complex aromas that develop in wine through aging, as opposed to primary fruit aromas.

Body

The weight and fullness of wine in your mouth, described as light, medium, or full-bodied.

Finish

The taste that lingers in your mouth after swallowing wine, also called the aftertaste or length.

Acidity

The tartness in wine that makes your mouth water, providing freshness and balance.

Minerality

Descriptors like wet stone, chalk, or slate used to describe non-fruit characteristics in wine.

Balance

The harmonious integration of all wine components: fruit, acidity, tannin, alcohol, and sweetness.

Dry

Wine with little or no residual sugar, where fermentation has converted most sugar to alcohol.

Residual Sugar

Natural grape sugar remaining in wine after fermentation, measured in grams per liter.

Legs

The droplets or streaks of wine that form on the inside of a glass after swirling, also called tears or curtains, caused by the evaporation of alcohol and surface tension differences between alcohol and water.

Winemaking

12 terms

Malolactic Fermentation

A secondary fermentation that converts sharp malic acid to softer lactic acid, adding creaminess.

Oak Aging

The practice of aging wine in oak barrels, imparting flavors like vanilla, spice, and toast.

Brix

A measurement of sugar content in grapes, used to determine ripeness and potential alcohol.

Lees

Dead yeast cells and sediment that settle in wine after fermentation.

Vintage

The year grapes were harvested, reflecting that year's growing conditions.

Blend

A wine made from two or more grape varieties combined to create a harmonious final product.

Natural Wine

Wine made with minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar, using organic or biodynamic grapes, native yeasts, and little to no additives.

Sulfites

Sulfur dioxide compounds used as preservatives in wine to prevent oxidation and microbial spoilage.

Oxidation

The chemical reaction between wine and oxygen that can either enhance or spoil the wine depending on the degree and timing of exposure.

Cuvée

A French winemaking term derived from "cuve" (vat or tank), used to designate a specific blend, batch, or selection of wine—most notably the finest juice from the first pressing in Champagne production.

Maceration

The winemaking process of allowing grape skins, seeds, and sometimes stems to soak in juice or fermenting wine, extracting color, tannins, flavor compounds, and other phenolic substances.

Reserve

A label term suggesting a higher-quality or specially-aged wine, though its meaning varies dramatically by country.

Viticulture

6 terms

Terroir

The complete natural environment in which a wine is produced, including soil, climate, and topography.

Old Vines

Grapevines of significant age (typically 35-50+ years) that produce concentrated, complex wines.

Yield

The amount of grapes or wine produced per vineyard area, affecting concentration and quality.

Phylloxera

A root-eating pest that devastated European vineyards in the 19th century.

Canopy Management

Techniques for managing vine leaves and shoots to optimize grape ripening.

Biodynamic

A holistic farming philosophy that treats the vineyard as a self-sustaining ecosystem, going beyond organic practices by incorporating composting preparations and lunar/seasonal rhythms.

Wine Service

5 terms

Decanting

Pouring wine from bottle to another vessel to separate sediment and/or expose the wine to air.

Sommelier

A trained wine professional responsible for wine service and selection in restaurants.

Vertical Tasting

Tasting multiple vintages of the same wine from a single producer.

Corked

Wine contaminated by TCA, causing musty, wet cardboard aromas.

Aeration

The deliberate exposure of wine to air to enhance its aromas and soften its flavors before drinking.

Put Your Knowledge to Use

Now that you know the language, discover premium wines with our guaranteed upgrade system.

Browse Today's Offers