What is Body?
The weight and fullness of wine in your mouth, described as light, medium, or full-bodied.
Understanding Body
Body refers to the physical sensation of wine's weight in your mouth. It's influenced primarily by alcohol content, but also by tannins, residual sugar, and extract (dissolved solids). A helpful analogy: light-bodied wines feel like skim milk, medium-bodied wines like whole milk, and full-bodied wines like cream. Body doesn't indicate quality—it's simply a characteristic that affects food pairing and personal preference.
Why It Matters
Body is crucial for food pairing. Light-bodied wines pair with delicate foods; full-bodied wines stand up to rich, heavy dishes. Matching body prevents either the food or wine from overwhelming the other.
Examples
- 1Pinot Grigio is typically light-bodied
- 2Merlot is usually medium-bodied
- 3Barolo is full-bodied
Related Wine Terms
Quick Definition
"The weight and fullness of wine in your mouth, described as light, medium, or full-bodied."
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 TermFinish
The taste that lingers in your mouth after swallowing wine, also called the aftertaste or length.
Tasting TermAcidity
The tartness in wine that makes your mouth water, providing freshness and balance.
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