Taste the difference wine glossary
Ever wondered what some of the information means on a Taste the difference wine bottle? We've put together a glossary to help.
Acidity
Acidity is an essential component of wine. It provides a refreshing sensation in white wines and gives balance in reds, without it a wine can be dull & flabby. Acidity adds a lick of refreshment to sweet dessert wines, which would otherwise be cloying.
Appellation
This term referees to a specific wine region such as Burgundy and the Loire Valley. Many other countries have a similar system, including Italy, Spain, Portugal and also the United States.
Blend
A blended wine is made from more than one grape variety. Most champagne is a blend of three grapes – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, while Chateauneuf–du–Pape can contain up to 13. Other classic blends to look out for on a wine label are Shiraz/Cabernet & Semillion and Chardonnay.
Body
This describes the fullness of the wine in the mouth, which can be light (such as Beaujolais Nouveau), medium (Rioja) or full (Australian Shiraz).
Fermentation
Fermentation is the conversion, using yeast, of naturally occurring grape sugars into alcohol. Fermentation stops when all the sugar has been converted into alcohol. This method is widely used to make port.
Fortified Wine
If wine is fortified, it has had pure alcohol (usually grape spirit added to it before, during or after fermentation). Adding alcohol stops the fermentation process. If it is added during fermentation, for example when port is made, there is still lots of unfermented sugar in the wine, so the finished drink is sweeter than normal. If it is added at the end, as in sherry production, the wine can be a drier style.
Length
This refers to the time the flavours of the wine linger in the mouth after you’ve swallowed. The longer you can taste the wine, the better.
New World
New world wine regions included New Zealand, Australia and North and South America. While some of these countries have been making wines for centuries, in terms of exporting their wines, they’re seen as new, compared to the Old world.
Old World
This refers to the European and Mediterranean – bordering countries that have a long history of wine-making, such as France, Italy, Germany or Spain. In some of these regions, wines have been made for thousands of years.
Reserva
In Spain, red wines designed as reserva have received a minimum of three years ageing prior to release, of which at least one must be in oak.
Tannin
Found in grape skins, pips and stalks, tannins are harsh, bitter compounds which make your mouth pucker up and dry out just like you’ve had a very strong cup of tea. Red wines need tannin to give them structure, so its down to the wine maker to ensure the wine is balanced and not too tannic.
Vintage
The vintage is the year in which the grapes were grown. With Champagne, a vintage wine is one that is made from grapes all grown in the year declared on the label, whereas a non-vintage wine is a blend of wines from several years.
