Wine Glossary

Are you a wine lover? Or an aspiring sommelier? Here you can learn  bout tasting terms! An in-depth wine glossary.

  • Wine words with T, U, V, W and Y

     WORD “T” Tannic: rich in tannins, and harsh on the palate, as is often the case in young wines. Presupposes quality. Tarry: said of a wine that gives sensations of tar and liquorice root on the palate, but also on the nose. Tart/Sharp: rough and lacking balance, a trait which is immediately sensed on the
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  • Wine words with R and S

     WORD “R” Racy: describes a wine that appears bright in the glass and is lively on the nose and/or palate. Rancid: refers to a wine which has been damaged by bacteria and tastes disgusting. Reduced: this sensation may be perceived when the wine has been deprived of oxygen for a long time. If the wine
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  • Wine words with N, O and P

     WORD “N” Neutral: describes a wine whose aromas lack any particular distinguishing characteristics. New wine: a wine which has just been obtained through the alcoholic fermentation of must. Not to be confused with vino novello.    WORD “O” Oaky: this note can be found in wines aged in new barrels, which release aromas of vanilla,
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  • Wine words with I, L and M

     WORD “I” Immature: describes a wine that has not yet achieved its peak in terms of aroma, flavour and taste. Intense: an adjective that may refer to the colour, aroma and/or flavour of a wine.    WORD “L” Lacklustre: denotes a wine whose sensory characteristics display a loss of energy. This may happen due to
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  • Wine words with F and G

     WORD “F” Faded: describes a wine that has lost aroma and fragrance. Firm: showing presence in the mouth. This adjective refers to the wine’s body. Firmly structured: describes a wine in which the various components give a pleasant sensation of “weight” on the palate, without this being excessive. Body is perceived by the filiform tastebuds
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  • Wine words with D and E

     WORD “D” Drinkable: used to describe wines that are uncomplicated and pleasant to drink. Dry: describes a wine that is completely fermented and thus wholly or almost entirely lacks residual sugar.    WORD “E” Edgy (Spigoloso): used to describe a wine displaying a marked lack of softness. Effervescent (Effervescente): typical of spumantes or semi-sparkling wines.
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  • Wine words with C

     WORD “C” Cellarable: said of a wine that ages well. Characteristic: describes wine whose aromas are linked to the grape variety or varieties with which it was produced, or are due to ageing (for example notes of tar in some wines from Riesling grapes). Chemical: used to indicate smells reminiscent of sulphur dioxide, medicines, disinfectant,
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  • Wine words with B

    WORD “B” Big: refers to a wine that pleasantly fills the mouth, almost always as a result of high glycerine levels. Bitter: if the flavour of the wine is significantly and consistently conditioned by this element, it is a negative trait. Bitterish: a pleasing bitter sensation on the nose or on the palate which does
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  • Wine words with A

    The wine is on the table in front of us; we look at it, assess its aroma, and taste it, but it’s not always easy to find the right adjectives to describe it. This is where “The Words of Wine” comes in – a straightforward, easy-to-use guide containing a list of terms in alphabetical order.
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