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The glossary of wine terms lists the definitions of many general terms used within the wine industry. For terms specific to viticulture, winemaking, grape varieties, and wine tasting, see the topic specific list in the "'' See also''" section below.


A

;Abboccato : An Italian term for full-bodied wines with medium-level sweetness ;ABC : Initials for "Anything but
Chardonnay Chardonnay (, , ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern French wine, France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from English wine, Englan ...
" or "Anything but
Cabernet Cabernet can refer to several different things: Wine grape varieties * Cabernet Sauvignon, a hybrid of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon blanc, and one of the most popular wine grapes in the world * Cabernet Franc, a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon and ...
". A term conceived by Bonny Doon's
Randall Grahm Randall Grahm is a Californian winemaker and the founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering work with Rhône wine, Rhone varieties in California and for popularizing the use of alternative wine closures, screw ca ...
to denote wine drinkers' interest in grape varieties. ;Abfüllung (Erzeugerabfüllung) : Bottled by the proprietor. Will be on the label followed by relevant information concerning the bottler. ; ABV : Abbreviation of
alcohol by volume Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as ABV, abv, or alc/vol) is a standard measure of how much alcohol (ethanol) is contained in a given volume of an alcoholic beverage (expressed as a volume percent). It is defined as the number of millilitres (mL) o ...
, generally listed on a wine label. ;AC : Abbreviation for "Agricultural Cooperative" on Greek wine labels and for ''Adega Cooperativa'' on Portuguese labels. ;Acescence : Wine with a sharp, sweet-and-sour tang. The acescence characteristics frequently recalls a vinegary smell. ;Adamado : Portuguese term for a medium-sweet wine ;Adega : Portuguese wine term for a winery or wine cellar. ;Almacenista : Spanish term for a Sherry producer who ferments and matures the wine before selling it to a merchant ;
Altar wine Sacramental wine, Communion wine, altar wine, or wine for consecration is wine obtained from grapes and intended for use in celebration of the Eucharist (also referred to as the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion, among other names). It is usually ...
: The wine used by the Catholic Church in celebrations of the
Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...
. ; Alte Reben : German term for
old vine Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...
; Amabile : Italian term for a medium-sweet wine ; AOC : Abbreviation for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, ( en, Appellation of controlled origin), as specified under French law. The AOC laws specify and delimit the geography from which a particular wine (or other food product) may originate and methods by which it may be made. The regulations are administered by the '' Institut National des Appellations d'Origine'' (INAO). ;A.P. number : Abbreviation for ''Amtliche Prüfungsnummer'', the official testing number displayed on a
German wine label The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
that shows that the wine was tasted and passed government
quality control Quality control (QC) is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. ISO 9000 defines quality control as "a part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements". This approach places ...
standards. ; ATTTB : Abbreviation for the
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, statutorily named the Tax and Trade Bureau and frequently shortened to TTB, is a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, which regulates and collects taxes on trade and imports of alcoho ...
, a United States government agency that is primarily responsible for the regulation of wines sold and produced in the United States. ;
Amontillado Amontillado () is a variety of sherry wine characterised by being darker than fino but lighter than oloroso. It is named after the Montilla region of Spain, where the style originated in the 18th century, although the name "Amontillado" is somet ...
: Best described as a matured Fino. After the flor dies, the yeast sinks to the bottom of the wine and is no longer able to protect the Sherry from oxidation. The now unprotected Sherry begins to take on a rich and deep nutty flavor. ;
Anbaugebiet The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
: A German wine region. ''Anbaugebiete'' are further divided into ''Bereiche'' or districts. ; Annata : Italian term for a vintage ; Aperitif : A wine that is either drunk by itself (i.e. without food) or before a meal in order to stimulate the appetite. ; Appellation : A geographically delineated wine region. ; Aromatic : A wine with very noticeable and distinctive aromas ; Ausbruch : Austrian term originally referring to the ''
aszú Tokaji ( hu, of Tokaj ) or Tokay is the name of the wines from the Tokaj wine region (also ''Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region'' or ''Tokaj-Hegyalja'') in Hungary or the adjoining Tokaj wine region in Slovakia. This region is noted for its sweet wines ...
'' production method of mixing grapes affected by noble rot with a fermenting base wine. Today a
Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
in Austria, intermediate between Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. ; Auslese : German for "select harvest", a
Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
in Germany and Austria. ;Azienda vinicola : Italian term for an estate that makes wine from both its own vineyards and from purchased grapes ;Azienda agricola : Italian term for a winery that only produces wine from its own
estate vineyards A vineyard (; also ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. Vineyards ...


B

; Balthazar : A large bottle containing 12 litres, the equivalent of 16 regular wine bottles. ;Ban de Vendange : The official start of the harvest season in France. ;
Barrique Oak is used in winemaking to vary the color, flavor, tannin profile and texture of wine. It can be introduced in the form of a barrel during the fermentation or aging periods, or as free-floating chips or staves added to wine fermented in a vess ...
: The French name for a 225 litre Bordeaux style barrel (Bordeaux
hogshead A hogshead (abbreviated "hhd", plural "hhds") is a large cask of liquid (or, less often, of a food commodity). More specifically, it refers to a specified volume, measured in either imperial or US customary measures, primarily applied to alcoho ...
). Will yield 24 cases of 12 bottles each. ;Basic : A low-cost entry-level offering from a winery as opposed to its more expensive premium wine offerings. ; Beerenauslese : A German term meaning approximately "harvest of selected berries". A
Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
in Germany and Austria. ;
Bereich The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
: A district within a German wine region ''(Anbaugebiet)''. Contains smaller ''Grosslagen'' vineyard designations. ;
The Berthomeau Report Jacques Berthomeau (1948-2022) was a wine consultant commissioned by the French Ministry of Agriculture to prepare a report in 2001, now known as The Berthomeau Report, to "establish the goals and means to be deployed in terms of people, regulatio ...
: Commissioned by French Ministry of Agriculture to better position the wine industry for the future. ; Bianco, Blanc, Blanco, Branco : Italian/French/Spanish/Portuguese terms for a white wine or grape ; Bin : A term originally meant to denote a location in a cellar where wine is stored but now often seen in brand marketing of some wines (e.g. Bin 75 Merlot) ; Biodynamic wine :Like biodynamic agriculture in general, biodynamic grape-growing stems from the ideas and suggestions of Rudolf Steiner (1861.1925), which predate most of the organic movement. The principles and practices of biodynamics are based on his spiritual/practical philosophy which includes understanding the ecological, the energetic, and the spiritual in nature. ; Biologique : French term for
organic winemaking Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown in accordance with the principles of organic farming, which excludes the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The consumption of organic wine grew at a r ...
; Blind tasting : Tasting and evaluating a wine without knowing which it is. ;B.O.B. : An acronym for "Buyer's Own Brand" which refers to a private label wine owned by the restaurant or retailer that sells the wine. ;Bodega : A Spanish wine cellar. Also refers to a seller of alcoholic beverage. ;Bota : A cask of wine used to store Sherry with a capacity between 159 and 172 gallons (600-650
liter The litre (international spelling) or liter (American English spelling) (SI symbols L and l, other symbol used: ℓ) is a metric unit of volume. It is equal to 1 cubic decimetre (dm3), 1000 cubic centimetres (cm3) or 0.001 cubic metre (m3). ...
s) ;Botte : The Italian term for a wooden barrel, plural: ''botti''. Usually refers to a ''botte grande'', a large floor-standing wooden vat with a capacity of . ; Bottle : A container with a neck that is narrower than the body and a "mouth." Modern wine bottles are nearly always made of glass because it is nonporous, strong, and aesthetically pleasing. ;
Breathing Breathing (or ventilation) is the process of moving air into and from the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen. All aerobic creatures need oxygen for cellular ...
: The interaction between air and wine after a wine has been opened. Breathing may take place while the wine is
decanting Decantation is a process for the separation of mixtures of immiscible liquids or of a liquid and a solid mixture such as a suspension. The layer closer to the top of the container—the less dense of the two liquids, or the liquid from which the ...
.


C

;C.A. : Abbreviation seen on Spanish wine labels meaning ''Cooperativa Agrícola'' or local
co-operative A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-control ...
. ;
Cane pruning The use of vine training systems in viticulture is aimed primarily to assist in canopy management with finding the balance in enough foliage to facilitate photosynthesis without excessive shading that could impede grape ripening or promote gra ...
: Cane pruning is when one or two canes from a vine's previous year's growth are cut back to six to fifteen buds which will be the coming growing season's grape producers. ; Cantina : Italian term for winery. ;Cantina Sociale : Italian term for a co-operative ;
Cap Classique Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it, making it fizzy. While the phrase commonly refers to champagne, European Union countries legally reserve that term for products exclusively produced in the Champagne reg ...
:
South African __NOTOC__ South African may relate to: * The nation of South Africa * South African Airways * South African English * South African people * Languages of South Africa * Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the Afric ...
wine term for a sparkling wine made according to the traditional method ; Capsule : The plastic or foil that covers the
cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
and part of the neck of a wine bottle. ; Carbonic maceration : Whole, uncrushed grapes are fermented in a sealed vat containing a layer of carbon dioxide. This results in fruity, soft and distinct red wines. These wines have little tannin and are immediately drinkable. This is the method used throughout France's Beaujolais region. ; Cascina : Italian term for a farmhouse or wine estate ; Cask :A wood barrel or storage vessel, often made from oak, that is used in winemaking for fermentation and/or aging ; Casta : Portuguese term for a grape variety ; Caudalie : Unit of the persistence of the wine's finish in seconds. Derived from the word caudal (tail). A wine can have a caudalie of 8 or more seconds.Glossary of wine terms
(Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
; Cava : Spanish term for a sparkling wine made according to the traditional method ; Cave : See wine cave ;Cellar door : The area of the winery where
point of sale The point of sale (POS) or point of purchase (POP) is the time and place at which a retail transaction is completed. At the point of sale, the merchant calculates the amount owed by the customer, indicates that amount, may prepare an invoice f ...
purchases occur. This can be a tasting room or a separate sales area. ;
Cépage The glossary of wine terms lists the definitions of many general terms used within the wine industry. For terms specific to viticulture, winemaking, grape varieties, and wine tasting, see the topic specific list in the "''#See also, See also''" sec ...
: French term for grape variety. When it appears on a wine label it will usually refer to the varieties used to make the wine. ; Cerasuolo : Italian term for a cherry-pink colored wine ; Chacha :Georgian term for grape marc and stalks – in Georgian, ''chacha'' also refers to the spirits distilled thereof. ; Chai :A wine shed, or other
storage Storage may refer to: Goods Containers * Dry cask storage, for storing high-level radioactive waste * Food storage * Intermodal container, cargo shipping * Storage tank Facilities * Garage (residential), a storage space normally used to store car ...
place above ground, used for storing casks, common in Bordeaux. Usually different types of wine are kept in separate sheds. The person in charge of vinification and ageing of all wine made at an estate, or the ''chais'' of a '' négociant'', is titled a ''Maître de Chai''. The New World counterpart to the chai may be called the barrel hall.winepros.com.au. ;
Champagne flute A champagne glass is stemware designed for champagne and other sparkling wines. The two most common forms are the flute and coupe, both stemmed; holding the glass by the stem prevents warming the drink. Champagne can also be drunk from a normal ...
: A piece of stemware having a long stem with a tall, narrow bowl on top. ; Chaptalization : The practice of adding sugar (from
sugar beet A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and which is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet (''Beta vulgaris''). Together wi ...
s or
sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with ...
s) to the grape
must Must (from the Latin ''vinum mustum'', "young wine") is freshly crushed fruit juice (usually grape juice) that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The solid portion of the must is called pomace and typically makes up 7–23% of t ...
prior to fermenting, to compensate for low sugar content/potential alcohol in the grapes. ; Château : Generally a winery in Bordeaux, although the term is sometimes used for wineries in other parts of the world, such as the Barossa Valley. ;Chiaretto : Italian term for a very pale or light colored rosé ;
Clairet Clairet () is a wine that is dark pink in style and may be described as a full-bodied and deep-coloured type of rosé. It is considered a specialty of the Bordeaux region and is thought to have originated in Quinsac in Premieres Côtes de Bordea ...
: A French term for a wine that falls between the range of a light red wine and a dark
rosé A rosé () is a type of wine that incorporates some of the color from the grape skins, but not enough to qualify it as a red wine. It may be the oldest known type of wine, as it is the most straightforward to make with the skin contact method. ...
; Claret : British name for Bordeaux wine. Is also a
semi-generic ''Semi-generic'' is a legal term used in by the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to refer to a specific type of wine designation. The majority of these were originally based on the names of well-known European wine-producing r ...
term for a red wine in similar style to that of Bordeaux. ; Classic : German classification category for dry wine ;Classico : An Italian term for the historical or "classic" center of a wine region — sometimes located in the heart of a DOC. ; Cleanskin : In Australia, wine bottled without a commercial label, usually sold cheaply in bulk quantities. ; Climat : French term for
Lieu-dit ''Lieu-dit'' (; plural: ''lieux-dits'') (literally ''said-location'') is a French toponymic term for a small geographical area bearing a traditional name. The name usually refers to some characteristic of the place, its former use, a past event, ...
used in Burgundy for a single plot of land located within a vineyard that has its own name and demonstrated '' terroir''. ; Clos : French term for what was historically a vineyard whose boundaries were delineated by a walled enclosure. Commonly associated with vineyards in the Burgundy wine region such as the Grand Cru vineyard
Clos de Vougeot Clos de Vougeot, also known as Clos Vougeot, is a wall-enclosed vineyard, a ''clos'', in the Burgundy wine region, and an ''Appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) for red wine from this vineyard. It was named for the River Vouge, which is i ...
. ; Coates Law of Maturity : A principle relating to the aging ability of wine that states that a wine will remain at its peak (or optimal) drinking quality for as long as it took to reach the point of maturity. For example, if a wine is drinking at its peak at 1 year of age, it will continue drinking at its peak for another year. ; Colheita : Portuguese term for a harvest ;Commercial wine : A mass-produced wine aimed for a wide market of consumers made according to a set formula, year after year. These wines tend to emphasize broad appeal and easy drinkability rather than ''terroir'' or craftsmanship. ;Commune :A small wine-growing region that surrounds a village ;Compte :Classification system used in the Armagnac and Cognac region based on the age of the spirit ranging from 00 for a newly distilled spirit to 2 for a VS ("Very Special"), 4 for a VSOP Reserve, 6 for a Napoleon XO (extra old) and 10 for the longest aged XO. ; Congeners :Additional alcohols and aldehydes present in wine apart from ethanol, also known as
fusel alcohols Fusel alcohols or fuselol, also sometimes called fusel oils in Europe, are mixtures of several higher alcohols (those with more than two carbons, chiefly amyl alcohol) produced as a by-product of alcoholic fermentation. The word ''Fusel'' is Ger ...
. ;Consorzio :Italian term for a trade organization of wine producers. Often members of individual consorzio will have their wines packaged with a specific neck label that identifies their membership in the consorzio. ; Cooperative :Winemaking organization that is jointly owned by a number of growers who pool their resources and vineyards to produce wine under one label ;
Cordon training The use of vine training systems in viticulture is aimed primarily to assist in canopy management with finding the balance in enough foliage to facilitate photosynthesis without excessive shading that could impede grape ripening or promote grape ...
: A method of vine training. Unlike
cane pruning The use of vine training systems in viticulture is aimed primarily to assist in canopy management with finding the balance in enough foliage to facilitate photosynthesis without excessive shading that could impede grape ripening or promote gra ...
where the trunk itself is the only permanent, inflexible piece of the vine, cordon trained vines have one or two woody arms extending from the top of the trunk. These are then spur pruned. ; Corkscrew : A tool, comprising a pointed metallic helix attached to a handle, for drawing
Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
s from bottles. ;Côtes : French term for the hillside or slopes of one contiguous hill region. ;Coteaux : French term for the hillside or slopes of a hill region that is not contiguous. ; Country wine : A quality level intermediate between table wine and
quality wine Quality wines produced in specified regions (often abbreviated to quality wines psr, QWpsr or simply "quality wines") is a quality indicator used within European Union wine regulations. The QWpsr category identifies wines with Protected geographi ...
, which in France is known as '' vin de pays'' and in Italy as '' Indicazione Geografica Tipica'' ('' IGT'') . Also a synonym for
Fruit wine Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients (other than grapes); they may also have additional flavors taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs. This definition is sometimes broadened to include any alcohol ...
. ; Crémant : French sparkling wine not made in Champagne region. ;Crianza : Spanish aging designation. For red wines a wine needs to be aged at least 6 months in oak (in Rioja and
Ribera del Duero Ribera del Duero is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) located in the country's northern plateau and is one of eleven 'quality wine' regions within the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is also one of several recogni ...
it is 12 months in oak) and a total of 24 months before release. For Spanish whites there is no minimum oak aging but a Crianza designated wines needs to be kept at the winery for at least 18 months after harvest before being released to the market ; Cru : A French term that literally means "growth". May refer to a vineyard or a winery. ; Cru Artisan : Bordeaux estate classification below that of Cru Bourgeois ;
Cru Bourgeois The Cru Bourgeois classification lists some of the châteaux from the Médoc that were not included in the 1855 Classification of ''Crus Classés'', or Classed Growths. Notionally, ''Cru Bourgeois'' is a level below ''Cru Classé'', but still of ...
: A classification of Bordeaux wine estates in the Medoc that were not part of the originally 1855 Bordeaux classification. ;Cru Classé : A French term for an officially classified vineyard or winery. ;C.S. : An Italian abbreviation for ''Cantina Sociale'' that appears on wine labels denoting that the wine has been made by a local cooperative. ;
Cult wines Cult wines are wines for which dedicated groups of committed enthusiasts will pay large sums of money. Cult wines are often seen as trophy wines to be collected or as investment wine to be held rather than consumed. Because price is often seen ...
: Wines for which committed buyers will pay large sums of money because of their desirability and rarity. ;
Cuvaison The process of fermentation in winemaking turns grape juice into an alcoholic beverage. During fermentation, yeasts transform sugars present in the juice into ethanol and carbon dioxide (as a by-product). In winemaking, the temperature and speed ...
: The French term for the period of time during alcoholic fermentation when the wine is in contact with the solid matter such as skin, pips, stalks, in order to extract colour, flavour and tannin. See also maceration. ; Cuvée : French term, meaning vat or tank. On wine labels it is used to denote wine of a specific blend or batch. ;Cuverie : French term, along with cuvier that refers to the building or room where fermentation takes place. Essentially, the room, building, grange, barn, garage or shed, or other building, used for "making wine." When the grapes are first picked, they arrive at the cuverie. ;C.V. : Abbreviation for the French term ''Coopérative de Vignerons'' that may appear on wine labels to denote that the wine has been made by a local cooperative.


D

;
Débourbage In winemaking, clarification and stabilization are the processes by which insoluble matter suspended in the wine is removed before bottling. This matter may include dead yeast cells ( lees), bacteria, tartrates, proteins, pectins, various tannin ...
: Refers to a process in which the must of a white wine is allowed to settle before racking off the wine, this process reduces the need for filtration or fining. ; Decantation : The process of pouring wine from its bottle into a decanter to separate the sediment from the wine. ;Dégorgement tardive :French term for a Champagne that has been aged ''
sur lie Lees are deposits of dead yeast or residual yeast and other particles that precipitate, or are carried by the action of " fining", to the bottom of a vat of wine after fermentation and aging. The same while brewing beer at a brewery is known as ...
'' for an exceptionally long time (far beyond the usually 5-10 years of vintage Champagne) before going through
degorgement Sparkling wine production is the method of winemaking used to produce sparkling wine. The oldest known production of sparkling wine took place in 1531 with the ''ancestral method''. Pressure and terminology In popular parlance and also in the ...
. ; Demi-sec :A medium-dry sparkling wine. In Champagne, this a wine that has received a dosage of 32-50 grams/liter ; Dessert wine : Varies by region. In the UK, a very sweet, low alcohol wine. In the US by law, any wine containing over 14.1% alcohol. ;DO : 1. The abbreviation for '' Denominación de Origen'', or "place name". This is Spain's designation for wines whose name, origin of grapes, grape varieties and other important factors are regulated by law.
2. The abbreviation for dissolved oxygen, the degree of oxygen saturation in a wine, which strongly affects oxidation of the wine and its ageing properties. ; DOC : The abbreviation for '' Denominazione di Origine Controllata'', or "controlled place name." This is Italy's designation for wine whose name, origin of grapes, grape varieties and other important factors are regulated by law. It is also the abbreviation for Portugal's highest wine category, which has the same meaning in that country. ;Doce/Dolce/Doux/Dulce :Portuguese, Italian, French and Spanish terms for a sweet wine ;
DOCG The following four classifications of wine constitute the Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine: * ''Denominazione di origine'' (DO, rarely used; ; English: “designation of origin”), * ''Indicazione geografica tipi ...
: The abbreviation for '' Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita'', or controlled and guaranteed place name, which is the category for the highest-ranking wine in Italy. ;Drip cloth : A cover that slips over the neck of a wine bottle and absorbs any drips that may run down the bottle after pouring, preventing stains to table cloths, counter tops or other surfaces. ;
Dry Dry or dryness most often refers to: * Lack of rainfall, which may refer to ** Arid regions ** Drought * Dry or dry area, relating to legal prohibition of selling, serving, or imbibing alcoholic beverages * Dry humor, deadpan * Dryness (medica ...
: Lacking sweetness in taste.


E

; Eau de vie : French term for a grape-derived spirit such as
brandy Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
up to a maximum of 96% ABV. Its literal translation is ''"water of life"'' ;Edelfäule : German term for noble rot ;Edelkeur :
South African __NOTOC__ South African may relate to: * The nation of South Africa * South African Airways * South African English * South African people * Languages of South Africa * Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the Afric ...
term for noble rot. ;Edes :Hungarian term for a sweet wine ;Égrappage : The French term for destemming. Destemming is removing stems prior to pressing and fermenting the grapes and their juice. Stems have a significant amount of coarse and often green tannin undesirable in the finished wine. ;
Einzellage The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
: The smallest geographical unit in German wine law representing a single vineyard. ; Eiswein :
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
for ice wine, a dessert wine made from frozen grapes. ;Elaborado por :Spanish wine label term meaning "produced by" ;Élevé en fûts de chêne : French phrase that may appear on wine labels to denote that the wine has been aged in
oak barrels Oak is used in winemaking to vary the color, flavor, tannin profile and texture of wine. It can be introduced in the form of a barrel during the fermentation or aging periods, or as free-floating chips or staves added to wine fermented in a v ...
. ;Embotellado por :Spanish wine label term meaning "bottled by" ;Élevage : French term for the historical role that ''
négociants A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by winery, wineries or :Wine companies, wine companies, where their work includes: *Cooperating with viticulture, viticulturists *Monitoring the maturity of grape ...
'' play in the winemaking process-roughly translating as "bringing up" or "raising" the wine. Traditionally ''négociants'' would buy ready made wines after
fermentation Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
, blend and then store the wine before bringing them to the market. ; En primeur : A system commonly associated with Bordeaux wine where the previous year's
harvest Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-i ...
is available for contract sales several months before the wine will be bottled and release. ;Encépagement : French term for the proportion of grape varieties used in a blend. ;Entry-level wine : The wine from a producer's portfolio that is the lowest cost for purchase and offers the most basic quality. ;Eraflage :The process of removing the grapes from the stems, done either by hand or machine. Known in English as destemming. ;
Erste Lage The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
:German vineyards that have been classified by the
Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and ofte ...
(VDP) to be a "first class" location capable of producing Erstes Gewächs and Grosses Gewächs wines ; Erstes Gewächs : A dry wine from a "great growth" vineyard that has been designated as Erste Lage. In many regions this term has been replaced by Grosses Gewächs. ;Erzeugerabfüllung : German term for an estate-bottled wine ; Extra-Brut :A very dry sparkling wine. In Champagne, this is a wine that has received a dosage with between 0-6 grams/liter sugar ; Extra Dry :A sparkling wine that is sweeter than a brut. In Champagne, this is a wine that has received a dosage between 12 and 17 g/L sugar ; Estate winery : A United States winery license allowing farms to produce and sell wine on-site, sometimes known as a farm winery. ; EU lot number : A European Union directive initiated in 1992 that mandates every bottle of wine produced or sold in the European Union to include a designated lot number. This allows identified defective or fraudulent wine to be tracked and removed from circulation more efficiently. ;Ex-cellars : Refers to the extra cost associated with buying wines ''en primeur'' that may include the cost of shipping to the
importer An import is the receiving country in an export from the sending country. Importation and exportation are the defining financial transactions of international trade. In international trade, the importation and exportation of goods are limited ...
's cellars as well applicable duties and taxes.


F

; Farm winery : A United States & South Africa winery license allowing farms to produce and sell wine on-site. ;Fattoria : Italian term for a wine estate ;
Federspiel Federspiel is a Germanic surname that literally means "feather play". The name originates in Switzerland. Notable people with the surname include: *Ben Federspiel (born 1981), Luxembourgian footballer *Birgitte Federspiel (1925–2005), Danish actr ...
:In the
Austrian wine Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines (often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape), though some sweeter white wines (such as dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See) are also produced. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blauf ...
region Wachau, a classification of wine with a harvest must weight of at least 17° KMW and a finished alcohol level between 11 and 12.5% with no more than 4 g/L
residual sugar The subjective sweetness of a wine is determined by the interaction of several factors, including the amount of sugar in the wine, but also the relative levels of alcohol, acids, and tannins. Sugars and alcohol enhance a wine's sweetness, whil ...
. This classification is between the levels of Steinfeder and Smaragd. ;
Feinherb The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
:An unregulated German wine term for an off-dry (or halbtrocken) wine ;Fermentazione naturale :An Italian term for a "naturally sparkling" wine. This usually refers to a wine, such as
Asti Asti ( , , ; pms, Ast ) is a ''comune'' of 74,348 inhabitants (1-1-2021) located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River. It is the capital of the province of Asti and it is deemed t ...
, that has been bottled before fermentation is completed so that a natural sparkle of CO2 can be achieved in the bottle ;
Fiasco Fiasco may refer to: * a failure or humiliating situation * Fiasco (bottle), a traditional Italian straw-covered wine bottle often associated with Chianti wine Media * ''Fiasco'' (novel), a 1987 science-fiction novel by Stanisław Lem * ''F ...
: The straw-covered flask historically associated with Chianti. ;
Fighting varietal Wine has been produced in the United States since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84 percent of all US wine. The ...
: A term that originated in California during the mid-1980s to refer to any inexpensive cork-finished varietal wine in a 1.5 liter bottle. ;
Fine wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are ma ...
: The highest category of wine quality, representing only a very small percentage of worldwide production of wine. ;
Finings Finings are substances that are usually added at or near the completion of the processing of brewing wine, beer, and various nonalcoholic juice beverages. They are used to remove organic compounds, either to improve clarity or adjust flavor or ar ...
:Substances added at or near the completion of wine processing, to remove of organic compounds for the purpose of improving clarity or adjusting flavor or aroma. ; Flagon : A glass bottle that holds two litres of (usually inexpensive) table wine. ; Flying winemaker : A winemaker who travels extensively across the globe, sharing techniques and technology from one region of the world to another. The term originated with Australian winemakers who would fly to Northern Hemisphere wine regions in Europe and the United States during the August–October
harvest time Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the field (agriculture), fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse (legume), pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechaniz ...
when viticulture in the Southern Hemisphere is relatively quiet. ;
Fortified wine Fortified wine is a wine to which a distilled spirit, usually brandy, has been added. In the course of some centuries, winemakers have developed many different styles of fortified wine, including port, sherry, madeira, Marsala, Commanda ...
: Wine to which alcohol has been added, generally to increase the concentration to a high enough level to prevent fermentation. ;
French Paradox The French paradox is an apparently paradoxical epidemiological observation that French people have a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), while having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats, in apparent contradicti ...
: A 1991 episode of the American news program ''
60 Minutes ''60 Minutes'' is an American television news magazine broadcast on the CBS television network. Debuting in 1968, the program was created by Don Hewitt and Bill Leonard, who chose to set it apart from other news programs by using a unique styl ...
'' that documented the low mortality rate from
cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, h ...
among the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
who had a high-alcohol, high- cholesterol and low exercise lifestyle in contrast to the high mortality rate among Americans with a relatively lower cholesterol, low alcohol and more exercise lifestyle. ; Frizzante : Italian term for a semi- sparkling wine. ; Frizzantino : Italian term for a wine that has very slight effervescence, more than a still wine but less than a semi-sparkling. Similar to the French term ''perlant''. ;
Fruit wine Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients (other than grapes); they may also have additional flavors taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs. This definition is sometimes broadened to include any alcohol ...
: A fermented alcoholic beverage made from non-grape fruit juice which may or may not include the addition of sugar or honey. Fruit wines are always called "something" wines (e.g., plum wine), since the word wine alone is often legally defined as a beverage made only from grapes.


G

;Garrafeira : Portuguese term for a potentially superior quality wine that has seen extended aging in the barrel and bottle ;Gemeind : German term for a commune where wine is produced ; Geographical Indication : A term used by the World Trade Organization to designate a wine region that can produce wines with defined characteristics (such as an '' Appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) in France). ; Globalization of wine : Refers to the increasingly international nature of the wine industry, including vineyard management practices, winemaking techniques, wine styles, and wine marketing. ;Gönc : In Hungary, the traditional oak cask used to age Tokaji ;Goon : Australian term for inexpensive box wine. ;Grains nobles : A phrase that may appear on French wine labels from Alsace,
Condrieu Condrieu () is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhône, some south of Vienne and 44 km south of Lyon, at the foot of the lower slopes of the Mont Monnet. It has an area of 921 h ...
,
Coteaux du Layon Coteaux du Layon is an ''Appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) for sweet white wine in the Loire Valley wine region of France. Coteaux du Layon is situated in the Anjou district of the region, along the river Layon, which is a tributary of the ...
and Mâcon to indicate a wine made from botrytis-infected grapes ;Grande Marque : French term for a famous brand of wine, most commonly associated with the large Champagne houses. ; Grand cru : French term for a "Great growth" or vineyard. In
Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...
, the term is regulated to a define list of Grand cru vineyards. ;Grand vin : French term most often associated with Bordeaux where it denotes a Chateau's premier wine, or "first wine". On a wine label, the word's ''Grand vin'' may appear to help distinguish the wine from an estate's
second The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds ...
or third wine. ;Gran Reserva :Spanish aging designation that for red wine stipulates that it has been aged for a total of 5 years after harvest with at least 18 months in oak (in Rioja and Ribera del Duero the minimum is 24 months). For Spanish white wines the requirement is 4 years of total aging with at least 6 months in oak (increased to 12 months in Rioja and Ribera del Duero) ;Granvas :Spanish term for a sparkling wine that has been tank fermented as opposed to going through secondary fermentation in the bottle according to the Traditional Method used for Cava production ; Grosses Gewächs :A dry wine made from a vineyard that has been designated as an Erste Lage ("Great Growth") by the wine grower association VDP ;
Grosslage The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
: A German designation for a cluster of vineyards within a
Bereich The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
as opposed to an ''Einzellage'' which is a single vineyard.


H

;Habillage :French term for the foil and wire cork cage that are used to dress a bottle of sparkling wine ; Halbtrocken : German term for a medium-dry wine ;
Hock Hock may refer to: Common meanings: * Hock (wine), a type of wine * Hock (anatomy), part of an animal's leg * To leave an item with a pawnbroker People: * Hock (surname) * Richard "Hock" Walsh (1948-1999), Canadian blues singer Other uses: * A t ...
: Term for Rhine wines, usually used in England. ; Horizontal wine tasting : A tasting of a group of wines from the same vintage or representing the same style of wine (such as all
Pinot noirs Pinot Noir () is a red- wine grape variety of the species '' Vitis vinifera''. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French words for ''pine'' and ''black.'' The word ''p ...
from different wineries in a region), as opposed to a vertical tasting which involves of the same wine through different vintages. In a horizontal tasting, keeping wine variety or type and wine region the same helps emphasize differences in winery styles.


I

; Ice wine : Wine made from frozen grapes. Written, and trademarked as a single word - Icewine - in Canada. Called ''Eiswein'' in
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
. ;Imbottigliato all'origine : Italian term for a wine that has been estate-bottled ;
Imperial Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * Imperial, Texa ...
: A large bottle holding six litres, the equivalent of eight regular wine bottles. ; IGT : Abbreviation for "''Indicazione Geografica Tipica''", the lowest-ranking of the three categories of Italian wine regulated by Italian law. ;
International variety An international variety is a grape variety that is widely planted in most of the major wine producing regions and has widespread appeal and consumer recognition. These are grapes that are highly likely to appear on wine labels as varietal wines ...
: Grape varieties grown in nearly every major wine region, for example
Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon () is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to Lebanon' ...
,
Chardonnay Chardonnay (, , ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern French wine, France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from English wine, Englan ...
and
Merlot Merlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of ''merle'', the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the ...
; Invecchiato : Italian term for a wine that has been aged either in oak or in the bottle


J

; Jeroboam : A large bottle holding 3-5 litres, the equivalent of 4-6 regular wine bottles. ;
Jug wine "Jug wine" is a term in the United States for inexpensive table wine (or "bulk wine") typically bottled in a glass bottle or jug. Historically, jug wines were labeled semi-generically, often sold to third parties to be relabeled, or sold direct ...
:
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
term for inexpensive table wine (french: Vin de table).


K

; Kabinett : A wine designation in Germany (where it is a Prädikat) and Austria. ;
Kosher wine Kosher wine () is wine that is produced in accordance with ''halakha'', and more specifically '' kashrut'', such that Jews will be permitted to pronounce blessings over and drink it. This is an important issue, since wine is used in several Jew ...
: Wine that is produced under the supervision of a
rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as '' semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form o ...
so as to be ritually pure or clean.


L

; Landwein : German term for a wine slightly above table wines (tafelwine). Similar to a French '' vin de pays'' wine. ; Late harvest wine : Also known as late picked, wine made from grapes that have been left on the vine longer than usual. Usually an indicator for a very sweet or dessert wine. ;
Lazy Ballerina Lazy Ballerina is a term used in viticulture. It refers to the trellis that a wine grapevine is grown on. This is a common trellis in Australian wine production particularly in the McLaren Vale wine region McLaren Vale is a wine region in t ...
: One example of a trellising system used to grow wine grapes. ;Lie : French term for the dead yeast and sediment of wine also known as '' lees''. ; Litre ( US -
Liter The litre (international spelling) or liter (American English spelling) (SI symbols L and l, other symbol used: ℓ) is a metric unit of volume. It is equal to 1 cubic decimetre (dm3), 1000 cubic centimetres (cm3) or 0.001 cubic metre (m3). ...
) : A metric measure of volume equal to 33.8 fluid ounces (U.S.) or 35.2 fl oz (imperial). ;
Lieu-dit ''Lieu-dit'' (; plural: ''lieux-dits'') (literally ''said-location'') is a French toponymic term for a small geographical area bearing a traditional name. The name usually refers to some characteristic of the place, its former use, a past event, ...
: French term for a named vineyard site. Usually used in the context of describing individual vineyards below Grand cru status. ;Liquoreux : French term meaning "
liqueur A liqueur (; ; ) is an alcoholic drink composed of spirits (often rectified spirit) and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-aged beyond ...
-like" used for dessert wine with a luscious, almost unctuous quality. Often used to describe wines made by botrytis-infected grapes ;Liquoroso : Italian term for a fortified wine


M

; Maderized : A wine that has been oxidatively aged by maderisation. Often associated with the wines of
Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
; Magnum : A bottle holding 1.5 litres, the equivalent of two regular wine bottles. ;Manipulant :French term for a grape grower who makes their own wine. Often associated with the Champagne wine region where producers of Grower Champagnes are identified by the initials ''RM'' (for ''Récoltant-Manipulant'') on wine labels ;
Marc Marc or MARC may refer to: People * Marc (given name), people with the first name * Marc (surname), people with the family name Acronyms * MARC standards, a data format used for library cataloging, * MARC Train, a regional commuter rail system of ...
:The distillate made from pomace. The term can also refer to the pomace itself or, in the Champagne region, to individual press fractions from the traditional vertical wine press. ;Mas :French term for a vineyard ;Maso/Masseria :Italian terms for a wine estate ; Master of Wine : A qualification (not an academic degree) conferred by The Institute of Masters of Wine, which is located in the United Kingdom. ; May wine : A light German wine flavored with sweet woodruff in addition to strawberries or other fruit. ;
Mead Mead () is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water, and sometimes with added ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 20%. The defining character ...
: A wine-like alcoholic beverage made of fermented
honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
and water rather than grape juice. ;Merlot-to-go law :Legislation in some U.S. states allowing restaurant patrons to take the remains of an opened bottle of wine with them. ; Meritage : Originally created in California, these blended wines can be summed up as the "American Bordeaux". The term is a blend of the words "merit" and "heritage" and pronounced the same. The Red blend is made from at least 2 of the 5 Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The White Meritage is a blend at least 2 of Sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon vert, and Semillon. ; Methuselah :A large bottle holding six
liter The litre (international spelling) or liter (American English spelling) (SI symbols L and l, other symbol used: ℓ) is a metric unit of volume. It is equal to 1 cubic decimetre (dm3), 1000 cubic centimetres (cm3) or 0.001 cubic metre (m3). ...
s, the equivalent of eight regular wine bottles. ;Metodo charmat :Italian term for a sparkling wine that has gone through secondary fermentation in a tank (
Charmat method Sparkling wine production is the method of winemaking used to produce sparkling wine. The oldest known production of sparkling wine took place in 1531 with the ''ancestral method''. Pressure and terminology In popular parlance and also in the ...
) as opposed to the traditional method of fermentation in the bottle that consumers will eventually purchase. ;Metodo classico/Metodo tradizionale :Italian terms for a sparkling wine that has gone through secondary fermentation according to the traditional method ;Mid palate :The balance of weight, acidity and fruit flavors that are perceived while the wine is still in the tasters mouth and before swallowing ;Millésime :French term for a vintage date that can appear on a wine label ;Mis en bouteille au château :French for "''bottled at the winery''", usually in Bordeaux. ; Mistelle/Mistela :French and Spanish terms for a
fortified wine Fortified wine is a wine to which a distilled spirit, usually brandy, has been added. In the course of some centuries, winemakers have developed many different styles of fortified wine, including port, sherry, madeira, Marsala, Commanda ...
made by mixing unfermented grape juice with an alcohol spirit. For example
Pineau des Charentes Pineau des Charentes, (Pineau Charentais, or simply Pineau) is a regional aperitif of western France, made in the départements of Charente, Charente-Maritime, and (to a lesser extent) Dordogne. While popular within its region of production, i ...
;Moelleux :French term usually used for wines of mid-level sweetness or liquoreux.J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 446 Oxford University Press 2006 ; Monopole : French term for an appellation, where all the vineyards in the appellation are under single ownership. ;Mousse : The sparkling effervescence of a wine. In the glass it perceived as the bubbling but the surface of the glass can affect this perception. Premium quality sparkling wine has a mousse composed of small, persistent string of bubbles. ;Mousseux : French term for a sparkling wine ; Mulled wine : Wine that is spiced, heated, and served as a
punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pun ...
. ;
Must Must (from the Latin ''vinum mustum'', "young wine") is freshly crushed fruit juice (usually grape juice) that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The solid portion of the must is called pomace and typically makes up 7–23% of t ...
:The juice of freshly pressed grapes


N

;
Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylonian cuneiform: ''Nabû-kudurri-uṣur'', meaning "Nabu, watch over my heir"; Biblical Hebrew: ''Nəḇūḵaḏneʾṣṣar''), also spelled Nebuchadrezzar II, was the second king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ruling ...
: A large bottle holding 15 litres, the equivalent of 20 regular wine bottles. ; Négociant :
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
for "''trader''". A wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name. ; New World wine : Wines produced outside of the traditional wine growing areas of Europe and North Africa. ; Noble rot : A fungal disease caused by Botrytis cinerea that results in dehydrated and shrivelled grapes that are high in concentrated sugar. Noble Rot grapes are an essential component of many Austrian and German wines. ;Non-filtré :French term for a wine that has not been filtered ; Nose : The aroma or bouquet of a wine.


O

;
Oenophile Oenophilia ( ; Greek) is a love (''philia'') of wine (''oinos''). In the strictest sense, ''oenophilia'' describes a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation. In a general sense however, ''oeno ...
: A wine aficionado or connoisseur. ;
Oenology Oenology (also enology; ) is the science and study of wine and winemaking. Oenology is distinct from viticulture, which is the science of the growing, cultivation, and harvesting of grapes. The English word oenology derives from the Greek word ' ...
: The study of aspects of wine and winemaking. ; Old World wine : Wines produced inside of the traditional wine growing areas of Europe and North Africa. ; Organoleptic : A
winetasting Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onward. Modern, professional w ...
term for anything that affects one of the main
senses A sense is a biological system used by an organism for sensation, the process of gathering information about the world through the detection of stimuli. (For example, in the human body, the brain which is part of the central nervous system rec ...
such as smell. An example would be an affliction of the
common cold The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposu ...
or being in a room with someone wearing an overwhelming amount of perfume.


P

;Pétillant :French term for a lightly sparkling wine ;Petit château : A Bordeaux wine estate that doesn't have any official designation of
classification Classification is a process related to categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood. Classification is the grouping of related facts into classes. It may also refer to: Business, organizat ...
. ;Piquant : French term for a simple, quaffing white wine with pleasing fruit structure and balance of acidity. ;Plafond Limité de Classement : An allowance within the French AOC system that allows producers to exceed the official maximum limit on yields by as much as 20% in warm weather years. Critics such as wine writer Tom Stevenson describes this loophole (also known as "PLC") as "legalized cheating" ; Plan Bordeaux : A proposal for enhancing the economic status of the wine industry in Bordeaux. ; Plonk : British English slang for an inexpensive bottle of wine. The term is thought to originate from the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
word for white wine, "''blanc''". ;Podere :Italian term for a small wine estate ; Port : A sweet fortified wine, which is produced from grapes grown and processed in the Douro region of Portugal. This wine is fortified with the addition of distilled grape spirits in order to boost the alcohol content and stop fermentation thus preserving some of the natural grape sugars. Several imitations are made throughout the world. ;Pourriture noble :Italian term for noble rot ;
Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
: A PDO wine designation for high quality used in Germany and Austria, based on
grape ripeness In viticulture, ripeness is the completion of the ripening process of wine grapes on the vine which signals the beginning of harvest. What exactly constitutes ripeness will vary depending on what style of wine is being produced ( sparkling, still, ...
and must weight. There are several ''Prädikate'' ranging from Kabinett ( Spätlese in Austria) to Trockenbeerenauslese. The Austrian Prädikat also includes the designation Ausbruch between Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. ; Prädikatswein : The highest class of wine in the German wine classification, formerly called ''Qualitätswein mit Prädikat''. These wines always display a specific ''Prädikat'' on their label. ; Premier cru : French term for a "First growth". Used mostly in conjunction with the wines of
Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...
and Champagne where the term is regulated. ;Premium wines : Higher quality classification of wine above every day drinking
table wines Table wine (rarely abbreviated TW) is a wine term with two different meanings: a style of wine and a quality level within wine classification. In the United States, the term primarily designates a wine style: an ordinary wine which is not fortif ...
. While premium wines maybe very expensive there is no set price point that distinguishes when a wine becomes a "premium wine." Premium wines generally have more aging potential than every day quaffing wines. ;Primary aromas :The
aromas in wine The aromas of wine are more diverse than its flavours. The human tongue is limited to the primary tastes perceived by taste receptors on the tongue – sourness, bitterness, saltiness, sweetness and savouriness. The wide array of fruit, ...
derived from the grapes themselves and are considered part of the varietal character or
typicity Typicity (French ''typicité'', Italian ''tipicità'') is a term in wine tasting used to describe the degree to which a wine reflects its varietal origins and thus demonstrates the signature characteristics of the grape from which it was produced, e ...
of the grape variety. This is opposed to the ''secondary aromas'' which come from the fermentation and maturation process and the ''tertiary aromas'' which come from
aging process Ageing ( BE) or aging ( AE) is the process of becoming older. The term refers mainly to humans, many other animals, and fungi, whereas for example, bacteria, perennial plants and some simple animals are potentially biologically immortal. In ...
in the bottle. ;Produttore :Italian term for a wine producer ;Propriétaire :French term for the owner of a wine estate ;
Protected Designation of Origin The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union and the United Kingdom aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main ...
/PDO :Wine labeling term introduced to the European Union in 2009 to replace the Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions (QWPSR) designation. Used to denote a wine from a region with more specification and regulations than a generic Geographic Indication (GI) ;
Protected Geographical Indication Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialties, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG), promote and protect nam ...
/PGI :Wine labeling term introduced to the European Union in 2009 to replace the "Table Wine" designation. Used to denote a wine with lower specification and regulation than that with a PDO or GI designation. ; Punt : The indentation found in the base of a wine bottle. Punt depth is often thought to be related to wine quality, with better quality wines having a deeper punt. ; Puttonyos :In Hungary, the measurement of sweetness levels for Tokaji ranging from 3 Puttonyos, which contains at least 60 grams/liter of sugar, to 6 Puttonyos containing at least 150 g/L of sugar.


Q

;QbA : German initials for '' Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete''. ;QmP : German initials for ''
Qualitätswein mit Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
''. ;QPR : Initials for Quality-Price Ratio. ;Qualitätswein : A designation of better quality German wines. When used in isolation on a wine label, it refers to ''Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete''. ; Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) : A designation of better quality German wines from recognized viticultural areas. It formally represents the second-highest level of German wine. ;Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP) : A former designation of the best quality German wines, since 2007 shortened to Prädikatswein. ;Quality-Price Ratio (QPR) : A designation for rating wine based on the ratio of its quality and its price. The higher quality and less expensive price a wine has, the better the ratio. ; Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions (QWPSR) :A now-defunct wine classification category in the European Union that was formally abolished, along with the ''Table Wine'' designation, in 2009 with the adoption of the
Protected Designation of Origin The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union and the United Kingdom aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main ...
(PDO) system. ; Quaffing wine : A simple, everyday drinking wine ;Quinta : Portuguese term for a wine estate. ;
Qvevri Kvevri or Qvevri ( ka, ქვევრი ) - also known as Tchuri ( ka, ჭური) in Western Georgia - are large earthenware vessels used for the fermentation, storage and ageing of traditional Georgian wine. Resembling large, egg-shaped ...
''(Georgian: ქვევრი)'' :Earthenware vessels used for the fermentation, storage and ageing of traditional Georgian wine. Resembling large, egg-shaped amphorae without handles, they are either buried below ground or set into the floors of large wine cellars.


R

;Raisin :French term for a grape ; Recioto : An Italian sweet wine made from
passito Straw wine, or raisin wine, is a wine made from grapes that have been dried to concentrate their juice. The result is similar to that of the ice wine process, but is a much older process and suitable for warm climates. The technique dates back ...
grapes. ;Récoltant :French term for a wine producer who grows their own grapes. Often associated with the Champagne wine region where producers of Grower Champagnes are identified by the initials ''RM'' (for ''Récoltant-Manipulant'') on wine labels ;Récolt ; Redox : The reductive-
oxidative Redox (reduction–oxidation, , ) is a type of chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of substrate change. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a d ...
way that wine
ages Ages may refer to: *Advanced glycation end-products, known as AGEs *Ages, Kentucky, census-designated place, United States * ''Ages'' (album) by German electronic musician Edgar Froese *The geologic time scale, a system of chronological measuremen ...
. As one part gains oxygen and becomes oxidized, another part loses oxygen and becomes reduced. Early in its life, a wine will exhibit oxidative aromas and traits due to the relatively recent influence and exposure of oxygen when the wine was barrel aged and/or bottled. As the wine ages and is shut off from a supply of oxygen in the bottle, a mature wine will develop reductive characteristics. ;
Rehoboam Rehoboam (; , ; , ; la, Roboam, ) was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the last monarch of the United Kingdom of Israel and the first monarch of the Kingdom of Judah after the former's split. He was a son of and the successor to Solomon and a gr ...
: A large bottle holding 4.5 litres, the equivalent of six regular wine bottles. ; Reserva : Spanish aging designation. For red wines this means that a wine has been aged for at least 3 years following harvest with at least 12 months in oak. For Spanish white wines, the designation means that the wine has been aged for at least 18 months with at least 6 of those months in oak. ; Reserve/Riserva/Reserva : Terms given to wine to indicate that it is of higher quality than usual sometimes with longer aging and higher alcohol levels. Outside of the use of "Reserva" in Spanish wines, these terms usually have no official standings or requirements. ;
Residual sugar The subjective sweetness of a wine is determined by the interaction of several factors, including the amount of sugar in the wine, but also the relative levels of alcohol, acids, and tannins. Sugars and alcohol enhance a wine's sweetness, whil ...
/RS :The unfermented sugar left over in the wine after fermentation. All wines, including those labeled as "dry wines" contain some residual sugars due to the presence of unfermentable sugars in the grape must such as pentoses. ;Rich :French term for a very sweet wine. Often used as a description for very sweet sparkling wine ; Ripasso :The addition of Amarone flavor to Valpolicella wine by allowing the Valpolicella to pass over the drained must of an Amarone on its way to secondary fermentation. ;Rosado/Rosato :Spanish and Italian terms for a rosé wine ;Rosso/Rouge :Italian and French terms for a red wine


S

;Sack : An early English term for what is now called Sherry. ; Salmanazar : A large bottle holding nine litres, the equivalent of 12 regular wine bottles. ; Sangria : A tart
punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pun ...
made from red wine along with orange, lemon and apricot juice with added sugar. ;Sec/Secco/Seco :French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese terms for a dry wine. In Champagne production, "Sec" wines are actually medium-dry being sweeter than Brut and Extra Dry with 12-17 grams/liter of sugar added in the dosage. ;Secondary aromas :The
aromas in wine The aromas of wine are more diverse than its flavours. The human tongue is limited to the primary tastes perceived by taste receptors on the tongue – sourness, bitterness, saltiness, sweetness and savouriness. The wide array of fruit, ...
that are derived from the winemaking process which includes fermentation as well as potentially malolactic fermentation and
oak aging Oak is used in winemaking to vary the color, flavor, tannin profile and texture of wine. It can be introduced in the form of a barrel during the fermentation or aging periods, or as free-floating chips or staves added to wine fermented in a vess ...
. This is in contrast to the ''primary aromas'' which come from the grape variety itself and the ''tertiary aromas'' which come from aging process in the bottle. ; Sekt : A sparkling wine manufactured in Germany. ;Selection :German wine classification for dry wines from a single vineyard location ;
Selection de grains nobles Selection may refer to: Science * Selection (biology), also called natural selection, selection in evolution ** Sex selection, in genetics ** Mate selection, in mating ** Sexual selection in humans, in human sexuality ** Human mating strategie ...
: A sweet
botrytized wine Noble rot (french: pourriture noble; german: Edelfäule; it, Muffa nobile; hu, Aszúsodás) is the beneficial form of a grey fungus, ''Botrytis cinerea'', affecting wine grapes. Infestation by ''Botrytis'' requires moist conditions. If the we ...
made in the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
region of Alsace ;
Semi-generic ''Semi-generic'' is a legal term used in by the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to refer to a specific type of wine designation. The majority of these were originally based on the names of well-known European wine-producing r ...
: Wines made in the United States but named after places that the
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, statutorily named the Tax and Trade Bureau and frequently shortened to TTB, is a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, which regulates and collects taxes on trade and imports of alcoho ...
requires be modified by a US name of geographic origin. Examples would be New York Chablis, Napa Valley Burgundy or California Champagne. ;Semisecco/Semi-seco :Italian and Spanish designation for a medium-dry wine ; Sherry : A
fortified wine Fortified wine is a wine to which a distilled spirit, usually brandy, has been added. In the course of some centuries, winemakers have developed many different styles of fortified wine, including port, sherry, madeira, Marsala, Commanda ...
that has been subjected to controlled oxidation to produce a distinctive flavor, produced in the Triangulo de Jerez region of Spain. ; Smaragd :In the
Austrian wine Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines (often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape), though some sweeter white wines (such as dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See) are also produced. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blauf ...
region Wachau, a classification of wine with a harvest must weight of at least 18.2° KMW and a finished alcohol level of at least 12.5% with no more than 8 g/L residual sugar. These wines are usually the most rich and full-bodied wines from the Wachau that are often made from
late-harvest grapes Late harvest wine is wine made from grapes left on the vine longer than usual. ''Late harvest'' is usually an indication of a sweet dessert wine, such as late harvest Riesling. Late harvest grapes are often more similar to raisins, but have been ...
. ; Solera :A system of fractional blending used in the production of Sherry where younger wines are added to top up the barrels of older wines as they age in the cellar. ; Sommelier : A wine expert who often works in
restaurant A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...
s. ;Soutirage : French term for
racking Racking, often referred to as Soutirage or Soutirage traditionnel (meaning racking in French), also filtering or fining, is the process of moving wine or beer from one container to another using gravity rather than a pump, which can be disruptiv ...
. ; Sparkling wine :
Effervescent Effervescence is the escape of gas from an aqueous solution and the foaming or fizzing that results from that release. The word effervescence is derived from the Latin verb ''fervere'' (to boil), preceded by the adverb ''ex''. It has the same li ...
wine containing significant levels of carbon dioxide. ; Spätlese :
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
for "'' late harvest''" that is made without chaptalization. A
Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
in Germany and Austria. ; Split : A wine bottle that holds approximately 6 oz (175-187 mL) or one-fourth the equivalent of a typical 750 mL bottle; a single-serving. ;Spritzig : German term for a light sparkling wine. ;
Spumante Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it, making it fizzy. While the phrase commonly refers to champagne, European Union countries legally reserve that term for products exclusively produced in the Champagne reg ...
: Italian term for a sparkling wine made from any production method ;
Steinfeder Wachau is one of Austria (wine), Austria's most established and notable wine regions, specializing in dry wines made from Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. Located in Lower Austria along the Danube, west of Vienna and Krems an der Donau, it is one ...
::In the
Austrian wine Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines (often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape), though some sweeter white wines (such as dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See) are also produced. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blauf ...
region Wachau, a classification of wine with a harvest must weight be between 15 and 17° KMW, with no chaptalization permitted, and a finished alcohol level no greater than 11%. These wines usually the lightest in body among the wines of Wachau. ;Stickies : An Australian term for a broad category of sweet wines included
fortified A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
and botrytized wines. ;Stravecchio :Italian term for a very old wine, often used in association with
Marsala Marsala (, local ; la, Lilybaeum) is an Italian town located in the Province of Trapani in the westernmost part of Sicily. Marsala is the most populated town in its province and the fifth in Sicily. The town is famous for the docking of Gius ...
;
Strohwein Straw wine, or raisin wine, is a wine made from grapes that have been dried to concentrate their juice. The result is similar to that of the ice wine process, but is a much older process and suitable for warm climates. The technique dates back ...
/Schilfwein : A German word for "straw wine", same as the French term ''vin de paille''. Refers to a dried grape wine. A
Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
in Austria. ;Super Seconds : A term used in relation to lower classified Bordeaux wine estates that come close in quality to the
First Growth First Growth (french: Premier Cru) status is a classification of wines primarily from the Bordeaux region of France. The best of the best wines were assigned the highest rank of Premier Cru; only five wines, Château Lafite Rothschild, Châtea ...
Bordeaux estates. ;
Super Tuscans Tuscan wine (Italian ''Toscana'') is Italian wine from the Tuscany region. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di ...
: A style of Italian wine that became popular in Tuscany in the late 20th century where premium quality wines were produced outside of DOC regulations and sold for high prices with the low level '' vino da tavola'' designation. ;Supérieur/Superiore :French and Italian terms that indicate a wine has a higher alcohol level and may have received more aging prior to release. In France, this term is often seen with Bordeaux wines ;
Sur lie Lees are deposits of dead yeast or residual yeast and other particles that precipitate, or are carried by the action of " fining", to the bottom of a vat of wine after fermentation and aging. The same while brewing beer at a brewery is known as ...
:French term for a wine that has spent time aging on the lees during which it may have derived some flavors from autolysis. Often associated with the Loire wines of the Muscadet region. ;Sur pointe :French term for a sparkling wine that has been aged with its neck down following the completion of autolysis but before
dégorgement Sparkling wine production is the method of winemaking used to produce sparkling wine. The oldest known production of sparkling wine took place in 1531 with the ''ancestral method''. Pressure and terminology In popular parlance and also in the ...
. Wines that are being riddled (remuage) will end up sur pointe with the yeast sediment consolidated in the neck of the bottle. ;Süss :German term for a sweet wine ;Szamorodni :Hungarian wine term meaning "as it comes". A wine with a mixture of healthy and botrytis-infected grapes ;Száraz :Hungarian wine term for a dry wine


T

; Table wine : Generally any wine that is not sparkling or
fortified A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
. In the US these wines must also be between 7% and 14% alcohol by volume. The term ''table wine'' also refers to a wine that is considered a good, everyday drinker. In the European Union, the "Table Wine" category (and "Table Wine with a Geographical Indication") was previously the quality category that came below "Quality Wines" or Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions (QWPSR) such as French AOC and Italian DOCG wines until both terms were eliminated in 2009. Now most European wines that were formally labeled as "Table Wines" are just labeled as "Wine" while those that were labeled as "Table Wine with a Geographical Indication" are now
Protected Geographical Indication Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialties, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG), promote and protect nam ...
(PGI). ; Tafelwein : German term for table wine. ;Taille :In Champagne wine production this is the juice that is retrieved from the second pressing (or "tails") of grapes which is generally considered to be of lower quality than the juice that comes from the first pressing (or "cuvee") ;
Talento Talento since 2004 is a wine term which exclusively refers to Italian sparkling wines vinified in the traditional method of in-bottle secondary fermentation and using only Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc grapes.Italian sparkling wine made according to the traditional method of Champagne--similar to the Spanish term Cava. ;
Tastevin Wine accessories are things that may be used in the storage or serving of wine. Wine accessories include many items such as wine glasses, corkscrews, and wine racks. Glasses Wine glasses are a type of glass stemware that are used to drink and t ...
: A silver, shallow cup used for tasting wine. ;
Tasting flight Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onward. Modern, professional w ...
: Refers to a selection of wines, usually between three and eight glasses, but sometimes as many as fifty, presented for the purpose of sampling and comparison. ;T.B.A. : An abbreviation for the German wine Trockenbeerenauslese. ;Tenuta : Italian term for a wine estate ; Terroir : Special characteristics expressed in a wine that result from the interaction of geography, geology, climate, and the plant's genetics. ;Tertiary aromas :The
aromas in wine The aromas of wine are more diverse than its flavours. The human tongue is limited to the primary tastes perceived by taste receptors on the tongue – sourness, bitterness, saltiness, sweetness and savouriness. The wide array of fruit, ...
that are developed as the wine ages in the bottle. This is in contrast to the ''primary aromas'' which come from the grape variety itself and the ''secondary aromas'' which come from the winemaking process. ;Tinto :Spanish and Portuguese term for a red wine or grape ;Tonneau :French cask capable of holding or the equivalent of 100 cases of twelve standard 750 mL (75 cL) bottles of wine. Historically associated with Bordeaux wine. ;Transparency The ability of a wine to clearly portray all unique aspects of its flavor — fruit, floral, and mineral notes.K. MacNeil ''The Wine Bible'' pg 515 Workman Publishing 2001 ;Triage : A French term referring to the selective picking of grapes, instead of machine harvesting. ;Trocken : German for "''dry''". ; Trockenbeerenauslese : A German term meaning approximately "A late harvest of selected dry berries". A type of German wine made from grapes affected by noble rot. Such grapes can be so rare that it can take a skilled picker a day to gather enough for just one bottle.K. MacNeil ''The Wine Bible'' pg 523 Workman Publishing 2001 A
Prädikat The German wine classification system puts a strong emphasis on standardization and factual completeness, and was first implemented by the German Wine Law of 1971. Nearly all of Germany's vineyards are delineated and registered as one of approxi ...
in Germany and Austria. ;
Typicity Typicity (French ''typicité'', Italian ''tipicità'') is a term in wine tasting used to describe the degree to which a wine reflects its varietal origins and thus demonstrates the signature characteristics of the grape from which it was produced, e ...
: How well a wine reflects the characteristics of its grape variety and '' terroir''


U

;UC : Abbreviation for the French term ''Union Coopérative'' denoting a regional or local cooperative. ; Ullage : The space between the wine and the top of a wine bottle. As a wine ages, the space of ullage will increase as the wine gradually evaporates and seeps through the cork. The
winemaking term This glossary of winemaking terms lists some of terms and definitions involved in making wine, fruit wine, and mead. A ;Acetaldehyde : The main aldehyde found in wines, most notably Sherry. ;Acetic acid : One of the primary volatile acids in w ...
of "ullage" refers to the practice of topping off a barrel with extra wine to prevent oxidation. ;Unctuous : A wine that has layers of soft, concentrated, velvety fruits. Unctuous wines are lush, rich, and intense. ;Uva : Italian term for a wine grape ;Uvaggio : An Italian term for a wine that has been blended from several grape varieties-the opposite of a varietal. An example would be a Chianti that is based on Sangiovese but include other grape varieties in the bend.


V

; Varietal : Wines made from a single grape variety. ;VC : Abbreviation for the Spanish term ''vino comarcal'' denoting a local wine similar to a '' vin de pays'' in France. ;VDL : Abbreviation for the French term ''
vin de liqueur A ''vin de liqueur'' is a sweet fortified style of French wine that is fortified with brandy to unfermented grape must. The term ''vin de liqueur'' is also used by the European Union to refer to all fortified wines. These wines are similar to ...
'' denoting a wine that has been
fortified A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
prior to
fermentation Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
;VDLT : Abbreviation for the Spanish term ''vino de la tierra'' denoting a "country wine" similar to the VDQS system of France. ;VDN : Abbreviation for the French term '' vin doux naturel'' denoting a wine that has been fortified during fermentation. ; VDQS : Abbreviation for the French ''
Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure Vin délimité de qualité supérieure ("delimited wine of superior quality"), usually abbreviated as VDQS, was the second highest category of French wine, below ''appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) in rank, but above ''vin de pays'' (count ...
'' system that ranks below '' Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) but above ''Vin de pays'' (country wine). ;VDT : Abbreviation for the Italian term '' vino da tavola'' denoting a table wine. ;Vecchio :Italian term for old that may be used as an aging designation that is regulated by some DOC/G wine regions ;Vendange :French term for grape harvest ;Vendangé à la main :French term for a wine made from grapes that have been harvested by hand ;Vendange tardive : French term denoting a late harvest wine. Legally this term can only appear on wine labels from the Alsace wine region to denote wines from exceptionally ripe grapes that have reached a certain pre-determined must weight. For Riesling and Muscat the grapes must be harvested with a potential alcohol level of at least 14%. For Pinot gris and Gewürztraminer, the potential alcohol level needs to be at least 15.3% by volume. ;Vendemmia/Vendimia :Italian and Spanish term for grape harvest ; Vermouth : An aromatized wine that is made with
wormwood Wormwood may refer to: Biology * Several plants of the genus ''Artemisia'': ** ''Artemisia abrotanum'', southern wormwood ** '' Artemisia absinthium'', common wormwood, grande wormwood or absinthe wormwood ** ''Artemisia annua'', sweet wormwood o ...
and potentially other ingredients. ;
Vertical wine tasting Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onward. Modern, professional w ...
: In a vertical tasting, different vintages of the same wine type from the same winery are tasted, such as a winery's
Pinot noir Pinot Noir () is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words for ''pine'' and ''black.' ...
from five different years. This emphasizes differences between various vintages for a specific wine. In a horizontal tasting, the wines are all from the same vintage but are from different wineries or microclimates. ; Vieilles vignes :Literally "
old vines Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...
" in French, sometimes written as the initials V.V. It is not a regulated term with no official or legal definition of "Vieilles vignes" in any of the wine regions of France. ;Viejo :Spanish term for "old" ;Vigna/Vigneto :Italian terms for a vineyard ; Vigneron :
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
for ''vine grower''. ;Vignoble : French term for a "vineyard" ;
Vin Vin or VIN may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Vîn TV, a Kurdish language satellite television channel founded in 2007 * ''Vos Iz Neias?'', an American Jewish online news site * Coastal radio station VIN Geraldton (callsign), a statio ...
: French for ''wine''. ;Viña : Spanish for '' vines''. ;Vin de garde : French term for a wine with the potential to improve with
age Age or AGE may refer to: Time and its effects * Age, the amount of time someone or something has been alive or has existed ** East Asian age reckoning, an Asian system of marking age starting at 1 * Ageing or aging, the process of becoming older ...
. ;
Vin de glace Ice wine (or icewine; german: Eiswein) is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, allowing for a more concentrated grape ...
: French term for an ice wine. ;Vin de paille :French term for a wine that has been made from dried out grapes such as a straw wine, for example a rare white ''Vin de paille'' can be produced in the northern Rhone wine region of the
Hermitage AOC Hermitage is a French wine ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon. It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape; however, small quantities of white wine are also produced fro ...
from Marsanne. ; Vin de pays : French classification system denoting wines that are above vin de table but below VDQS. ; Vin de table : French term denoting a table wine, the lowest classification of the French AOC system. ;Viña/Viñedo/Vinha : Spanish and Portuguese terms for ''vineyard'' ;Vinho : Portuguese for ''wine''. ; Vinho regional : The lowest level of the Portuguese classification system. Similar to a ''vin de pays''. ;Vin mousseux : Generic French term for a sparkling wine. ;
Vin nouveau A ''nouveau'' ( ), or ''vin (de) primeur'', is a wine which may be sold in the same year in which it was harvested. The most widely exported ''nouveau'' wine is French wine Beaujolais ''nouveau'' which is released on the third Thursday of N ...
: French term similar to
Vin primeur A ''nouveau'' ( ), or ''vin (de) primeur'', is a wine which may be sold in the same year in which it was harvested. The most widely exported ''nouveau'' wine is French wine Beaujolais ''nouveau'' which is released on the third Thursday of N ...
denoting a very young wine meant to be consumed within the same vintage year it was produced. Example: Beaujolais nouveau. ;Vin ordinaire : French term used to denote an "ordinary wine" as opposed to a premium quality wine. ;Vino : Italian and Spanish, originally derived from Latin, for ''wine''. ;Vino de mesa/Vino da tavola : Spanish and Italian terms for '' table wine''. ;Vino generoso : Spanish term for a
fortified wine Fortified wine is a wine to which a distilled spirit, usually brandy, has been added. In the course of some centuries, winemakers have developed many different styles of fortified wine, including port, sherry, madeira, Marsala, Commanda ...
;Vino novello : Italian term for a ''Vin primeur''. ;Vinous : A term used to denoting anything relating to wine. ; Vintage :Vintage is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product. A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. ;Viticoltore/Vigniaiolo :Italian terms for a wine grape grower ;Vitigno :Italian term for a wine grape variety ;Vivace :Italian term for a "lively" or lightly sparkling wine


W

; Waiter's friend : Also called sommelier knife, a popular type of corkscrew used in the hospitality industry. ;Webster : A unit of wine or fortified wine consisting of 1.5L in total. ;Weissherbst : A
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
''
rosé A rosé () is a type of wine that incorporates some of the color from the grape skins, but not enough to qualify it as a red wine. It may be the oldest known type of wine, as it is the most straightforward to make with the skin contact method. ...
'' made from only black grape varieties such as
Pinot noir Pinot Noir () is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words for ''pine'' and ''black.' ...
. ; Wine :An alcoholic beverage made from the
fermentation Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
of unmodified grape juice. ; Wine cave :A subterranean structure for storing and aging wine. ; Wine fraud :Any form of dishonesty in the production or distribution of wine. ; Wine label :The descriptive sticker or signage adhered to the side of a wine bottle. ;
Wine lake The wine lake refers to a perceived overproduction of wine in the European Union, particularly around 2005–2007. The EU's Common Agricultural Policy contained a number of subsidies for wine producers, leading to a supply glut; this surplus forc ...
:Refers to the continuing surplus of wine over demand (glut) being produced in the European Union. ; Wine tasting :The sensory evaluation of wine, encompassing more than taste, but also mouthfeel, aroma, and color. ;Winzergenossenschaft :German term for a co-operative winery


X

; Xylem : The woody tissue of a vine, inside of the vascular cambium layer, that includes heartwood and sapwood, which transports water and nutrients from the roots towards the leaves.


Y

; yeast : A micro-organism present on the skins of grapes that reacts with the sugars inside and results in the production of ethyl alcohol during a process called
fermentation Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
. ; Yield : A measure of the amount of grapes or wine produced per unit surface of vineyard.


Z

; Zymology : The science of fermentation in wine.


See also

*
Glossary of viticulture terms This glossary of viticultural terms list some of terms and definitions involved in growing grapes for use in winemaking. A B C ...
* Glossary of winemaking terms


References

{{winemaking Oenology Glossary Wine terms