Glossary of Wine Terms Flashcards
bsetzen (GE)
racking
accolage (FR)
the process of tying the vine branches to the trellis frame
acetaldehyde
most common aldehyde in wine; formed by oxidized ethanol
adega (PO)
winery
aguja (SP)
wine that has naturally dissolved carbon dioxide and gives a slight prickle on the tongue
albumin
a water-soluble protein found in egg whites; coagulates with heat; used for fining
alleinbesitz (GE)
monopole
almacenista (SP)
producers and growers who make and age their own Sherry to be later sold to a licensed Sherry house
alte reben (GE)
old vines
ampelography
the study of grape vines
andana (SP)
a stack of wine casks; usually 5 tiers high
añada (SP)
vintage
annata (IT)
vintage year
anreicherung (GE)
sweetening the must before or during fermentation; enriching the must
aspersion
spraying the buds or grapes with water to protect against late frosts or freezes; the water turns to ice which protects the buds from colder temperatures
ausbau (GE)
maturation of wines
autolysis
self-destruction of yeast cells after fermentation- contributes flavors; richness; and texture to the finished wine
bac à glace (FR)
ice cold brine bath used to freeze the necks of Champagne before disgorging
baie (FR)
rack
bâtonnage (FR)
stirring of the lees
baumé (FR)
scale for measuring the must weight / measures the potential alcohol of a must
bench graft
grafting done in a nursery
beneficio (PO)
grading system used in the Duoro to rank vineyards
bentonite
an aluminosilicate clay that swells in water and has powerful properties of absorption
biologique (FR)
organic
bleeding
a.k.a. ‘weeping.’ The first sign aft winter that the vine is coming out of dormancy. Gen occurs in Feb (N. Hem); August (S. Hem)
bodega (SP)
winery
Bouillie Bordelaise (FR)
Bordeaux Mixture.’ Lime; copper sulphate; & water; mixed & used as an effective control of downy mildew (a.k.a. peronospera)
bourbes (FR)
lees; sediment
bourgeon (FR)
bud
bousinage (FR)
toasting the inside of oak barrels
branco (PO)
white
brassage (FR)
a method of cap management in whichpressurized gas is injectedinto the bottom of a tank –faster than remontage
brix
used to measure the sugar percentage in grapes or juice
bush training
training the grape vine as an independent plant without a trellis system
buttage (FR)
earthing-up; to protect plants from frost by pushing dirt up to their base
Carbohydrate Degradation Products
complex group of compounds formed from (i.e. not present before) charring oak barrels. Incl Furfurals (bitter almond flavors); as well as the duo Maltol & Cyclotene (caramel-like flavor; also act as flavor potentiators; inhancing the perception of other present flavors)
casca (SP)
leftover grapes skins and seeds
cascina (IT)
farmhouse or wine estate
casta (PO)
grape variety
cep (FR)
grapevine stump
cépage (FR)
grape variety
chai (FR)
wine or barrel storehouse; usually in bordeaux
chapeau (FR)
cap or head (layer of skins on top of must)
chaptalization
the addition of sugar to a grape must to increase the alcoholic strength of the finished wine; process “created” by Comte Chaptal- this is not done to sweeten the wine!
chiaretto (IT)
rosé
classico (IT)
the original “heart” of a DOP wine region
clos (FR)
walled vineyard or site (the wall may no longer exist)
collage (FR)
the use of fining agents in wine clarification
colle de poisson (FR)
isinglass
contre-étiquette (FR)
back label
cordon
an extension of a vine’s trunk
cosecha (SP)
harvest or vintage
côte (FR)
hill
côteaux (FR)
slopes or many hillsides
crossing
a vine variety created by cross-polinating two different varieties within the same species
cru (FR)
site or “growth”
cuvage (FR)
fermenting in vats
cuvier d’élevage (FR)
aging hall or room
débourbage (FR)
allowing juice to settle before fermentation to reduce sediment
débourrement (FR)
budding
déchaussage (FR)
removal of dirt near the base of the vines; also débuttage
décuvaison (FR)
running-off
dégorgement (FR)
disgourging
délestage (FR)
“racking and returning”- removing the fermenting wine from a tank and pouring it over the cap
diurnal swing
the change in temperature from hottest to coldest (day time to night time) in a given day or time period
doble pasta (SP)
wines made with twice as many black grape skins as normal must
écoulage (FR)
free running (drain off by gravity)
edelfäule (GE)
botrytis cinerea infected grapes
edelzwicker (FR)
a wine from Alsace made from blending noble varietals
edes (HU)
sweet
effeuillage (FR)
leaf thinning of the canopy
égrappage (FR)
de-stemming
einzellage (GE)
individual vineyard site
einzelpfahlerziehung (GE)
a vine trained to an individual stake; this is used on very steep slopes
élaboration (FR)
wine making
élevage (FR)
aging
elevé en fûts de chêne (FR)
oak aged
engarrafado na origem (PO)
estate bottled
éraflage (FR)
de-stalking or de-stemming
erzeugerabfüllung (GE)
estate bottled
ethanol
primary alcohol created in the process of fermentation
ettato (IT)
hectare