What is Balance?
The harmonious integration of all wine components: fruit, acidity, tannin, alcohol, and sweetness.
Understanding Balance
Balance is when all of a wine's components—fruit, acidity, tannins (in reds), alcohol, and any sweetness—work together harmoniously, with none overpowering the others. A balanced wine is pleasant to drink because nothing sticks out or feels jarring. Balance is considered one of the most important indicators of quality. Even powerful, concentrated wines should feel balanced, with their intensity integrated.
Why It Matters
Balance is fundamental to wine quality and drinking pleasure. An unbalanced wine—too acidic, too tannic, too alcoholic, or too sweet—is less enjoyable regardless of other qualities.
Examples
- 1Great Burgundy achieves balance between fruit, acid, and tannin
- 2Sauternes balances sweetness with acidity so it doesn't cloy
- 3High-alcohol wines need fruit and structure to stay balanced
Related Wine Terms
Quick Definition
"The harmonious integration of all wine components: fruit, acidity, tannin, alcohol, and sweetness."
Explore More Wine Terms
Tannins
Natural compounds in wine that create a drying, astringent sensation in the mouth.
Tasting TermBouquet
The complex aromas that develop in wine through aging, as opposed to primary fruit aromas.
Tasting TermBody
The weight and fullness of wine in your mouth, described as light, medium, or full-bodied.
Tasting TermFinish
The taste that lingers in your mouth after swallowing wine, also called the aftertaste or length.
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