Wine Terms You Should Know

If you're new to the world of wine, you've probably come across terms that you haven't heard before. Don't be put off by foreign sounding words. Wine, like all subjects, has its own vocabulary. Here are some common terms that you should know:

Acidity

Sometimes called the sour factor, acidity refers to the tartness that is a result of the citric, malic, or lactic acid of the grapes. The acidity also acts as a preservative.

Appellation

A geographic region where a wine's grapes are grown and made into wine.

Aroma

The smell of the wine, especially during the first year, as opposed to the bouquet which develops later during the aging and fermenting process. The aroma can be fruity, smoky, floral, etc.

Decant

Aerating the wine by pouring it into another decanter. This also removes any sediment from the wine.

Fining

Fining refers to the filtration process in wine making. Wine goes through a clarification and filtration process in order to remove unwanted material.

Sommelier

Sommelier is a wine expert. Sommeliers have extensive training and maintain wine collections at fine restaurants. Sommeliers will help you pair your meal with the perfect wine.

Terroir

The characteristics of a particular growing region--it's soil, water, and climate that determine the quality of the grapes and resulting wine. You could say terroir is the micro climate the varietals grow in, and each vineyard owner tries to improve the ecosystem.

Varietal

A type of wine. A wine takes its name from the grape it was made from. As an example Zinfandel and Riesling are varietals.

Viticulture

The agricultural science of growing grapes for the purpose of making wine.

Okay, that's enough for now. With these under your belt you can start exploring wine and wineries with a little confidence and feel like a seasoned veteran!