Wine Tasting Terminology

When it comes to the world of wine, there is much for a beginner to learn. You probably already know that certain types of food go with certain types of wine. But you may not be overly familiar with some of the wine tasting terminology used by experts. There is a lot of jargon that is used to describe wine. In this article you will learn some key terms that relate to wine and wine tasting. They apply to all wines including red, white and rose.

Acetic: Acetic acid is another word for vinegar. Most of the time, there is such a small amount of vinegar in the wine that it goes undetected. However when the content of the acetic acid reaches a certain point the wine is described as acetic which is a derogatory term. You may also hear ethyl acetate associated with the term acetic.

Acidic: Acidic wine is very sour with a tart taste. All wines contain natural acid but too much is definitely a fault.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is very important when it comes to wine tasting. This word refers to the taste that is left in the mouth after drinking the wine.

Balance: A well-balanced wine is one where all the elements such as the fruit, tannins and acidity are of the ideal levels and work ideally together.

Body: The body of the wine refers not to its taste but to the weight of the wine. One might describe the word body as an adjective referring to the texture of the wine.

Bouquet: The bouquet is the scent of a mature wine.

Breathe: To breathe the wine means you pour it from its bottle into another container such as a decanter which allows air to reach the wine and the aroma to be released.

Green: If a wine is described as being green, it means the grapes were underripe. This is not a favorable characteristic.

Hot: Hot wine is wine that is high in alcohol content and thus leaves a burning sensation in the throat after being swallowed.

Oaky: The term oaky refers to the oak flavor that is often imparted after wine has been aged in oak barrels. This is often a favorable term.

Pruny: Pruny wine is wine that was made from grapes that were overripe. This is a derogatory adjective in the world of wine.

Robust: A robust wine is one that is full-bodied and very flavorful.

Tannin: Tannins are a substance naturally found in grape seed and skin. Tannins help preserve and balance the wine and give it a slight bitterness. Too much tannin is a fault.

Woody: Wine that is described as woody often has too much oakiness. While the word oaky can be a favorable description woody is not.



How To Build A Wine Cellar
Wine Tour News:
Local Vino: Wine Not? - Food Media - - CHOW
Author Todd Kliman is fighting for local wine, which may be the last true frontier for the locavore movement...




How To Build A Wine Cellar


Technorati Tags: , ,