Tinto is the Spanish term for red wine. Winemakers use this word to describe wines made from red or black grape varieties. In Portugal, the term Vinho Tinto serves a similar purpose. Both regions have rich traditions of producing red wines. Spain and Portugal grow many grape varieties for tinto wines. Tempranillo is one of […]
Typicity refers to how well a wine reflects the classic characteristics of its grape variety, region, and style. It’s a way to measure a wine’s authenticity. Wine experts often use this term to assess if a wine tastes like it should. For example, a Pinot Noir from Burgundy should showcase notes of red berries, earth, […]
Tirage is an essential step in making sparkling wine, including Champagne. The term refers to adding a mixture of yeast and sugar to a base wine. This process creates the second fermentation inside the bottle, forming bubbles. Winemakers prepare the base wine first. This wine is typically still and dry. They add the tirage mixture, […]
Trocken means “dry” in German. Winemakers use this term to describe wines with very little or no residual sugar. It’s common on labels for German wines, especially Rieslings. When you see Trocken, expect a wine that tastes crisp and refreshing rather than sweet. German wine laws define how dry the wine can be. The wine […]
DOC stands for Denominação de Origem Controlada in Portuguese (or Denominazione di Origine Controllata in Italian), which translates to “Controlled Designation of Origin” in English. It’s a certification that guarantees the quality and authenticity of wines from specific regions, ensuring that they meet strict production standards. This label indicates that the wine is made in […]
A qvevri is a large, egg-shaped clay vessel used for winemaking, with roots that trace back over 8,000 years to Georgia, a country considered the birthplace of wine. Winemakers traditionally use qvevris to ferment, store, and age wine, following ancient methods passed down through generations. Unlike other clay vessels, qvevris are buried underground, creating a […]
Orange wine offers a distinctive style that stands out in the wine world. Despite its name, orange wine doesn’t contain any oranges. Instead, it gets its color and unique character from white grapes that ferment with their skins. This skin-contact fermentation gives the wine its amber or orange hue, along with complex flavors and textures. […]
Mousse refers to the frothy bubbles found in sparkling wine. When you pour a glass of Champagne or Prosecco, the bubbles that rise to the surface create a layer of foam known as mousse. This frothiness results from the carbon dioxide trapped inside the wine during fermentation, creating a visual and sensory experience that defines […]
Filtration plays a crucial role in winemaking, helping to remove unwanted particles and clarify the wine before bottling. Winemakers use this process to ensure that the wine is clear, stable, and free of any impurities. Without proper filtration, sediments like dead yeast cells (lees), tartrates, and other organic matter can remain suspended in the wine, […]
Spinning cone technology offers winemakers a precise method for reducing or removing alcohol from wine without sacrificing its flavor and aroma. This process uses a specialized piece of equipment called a spinning cone column to maintain the wine’s essential qualities while adjusting its alcohol content. The process begins with heating the wine gently to release […]
Rosé is a type of wine that has gained significant popularity, especially during warmer months. It gets its lovely pink hue from the short contact time between the grape juice and the skins of red grapes. This process, known as maceration, is what distinguishes Rosé from both red and white wines. Depending on the length […]
Prosecco is a sparkling wine that comes from Italy, mostly produced in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. Winemakers primarily use Glera grapes to craft this bubbly wine, known for its fresh and fruity character. Prosecco stands out because of its approachable flavors, with notes of green apple, pear, and citrus often being the […]
An amphora is a traditional clay vessel with deep roots in ancient winemaking. Civilizations like the Greeks, Romans, and Phoenicians widely used these containers thousands of years ago. It was primarily for fermenting and storing wine. These vessels feature a characteristic shape, with a narrow neck, two sturdy handles, and a pointed or rounded base, […]
Aguardente (pronounced ah-gwar-DEN-tay) is a term used in Portuguese-speaking countries for strong alcoholic beverages distilled from fermented fruits or grains. The name itself means “burning water,” which gives you an idea of its potency. In Portugal, aguardente is most commonly made from grapes, and it plays a crucial role in the country’s winemaking tradition, especially […]
Chianti, hailing from Tuscany, Italy, is one of the most recognizable and beloved wine names globally. This red wine primarily uses Sangiovese grapes, although it may include small percentages of other varietals such as Canaiolo, Colorino, or even international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Chianti wines are known for their bright acidity, firm tannins, […]
Chardonnay, one of the world’s most popular and widely grown white grape varieties, traces its origins to the Burgundy region of France. Winemakers appreciate this grape because of its versatility and adaptability to different climates. In cool regions like Chablis, Chardonnay often produces wines with crisp acidity and flavors of green apple and citrus. In […]
Burgundy, located in eastern France, stands as one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world. The region is known primarily for its production of both red and white wines, crafted from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Burgundy wines are often seen as the epitome of terroir-driven winemaking, meaning that the unique characteristics of […]
Gyropalettes are mechanical devices used in modern sparkling wine production to automate the process of riddling (remuage). Developed in the 1970s, gyropalettes are large, motorized cages that can hold dozens of bottles at once. These machines mimic the hand-riddling process traditionally performed by remueurs, but they do so on a much larger and faster scale, […]
Remueurs are the skilled workers responsible for manually carrying out the process of remuage (riddling) in traditional sparkling wine production. These individuals are highly trained in the precise technique of turning and tilting bottles to encourage sediment to move from the sides of the bottle down toward the neck. This process is essential for clearing […]
Pupitres are wooden A-frame racks that are used in the traditional méthode champenoise for the process of remuage (riddling). The design of the pupitre allows bottles of sparkling wine to be inserted at an angle, with the neck of the bottle pointing downward. This positioning helps in consolidating the sediment that forms during secondary fermentation. […]
Definitions and explanations of some words used in the wine industry.
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