science

Glossary of wine terms

Glossary of wine terms is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Glossary of wine terms rather than just read about it. In short: 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.

Key takeaways

Glossary of wine terms belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Glossary of wine terms to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Glossary of wine terms from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

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" or "Anything but Cabernet". A term conceived by Bonny Doon's Randall Grahm 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, 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 The wine used by the Catholic Church in celebrations of the Eucharist. Alte Reben German term for old vine Amabile Italian term for a medium-sweet wine AOC Abbreviation for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, (English: 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 that shows that the wine was tasted and passed government quality control standards. ATTTB Abbreviation for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a United States government agency that is primarily responsible for the regulation of wines sold and produced in the United States. Amontillado 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 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 production method of mixing grapes affected by noble rot with a fermenting base wine. Today a Prädikat in Austria, intermediate between Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. Auslese German for "select harvest", a Prädikat 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

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 The French name for a 225 litre Bordeaux style barrel (Bordeaux hogshead). 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 in Germany and Austria. Bereich A district within a German wine region (Anbaugebiet). Contains smaller Grosslagen vineyard designations. The Berthomeau Report 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 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 liters) 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 1,000–3,000 litres (220–660 imp gal; 260–790 US gal). 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 The interaction between air and wine after a wine has been opened. Breathing may take place while the wine is decanting. Brut A label designation for a dry sparkling wine, especially a champagne.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Glossary of wine terms

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Glossary of wine terms claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Glossary of wine terms before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Glossary of wine terms ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Glossary of wine terms

In research: Glossary of wine terms appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Glossary of wine terms in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Glossary of wine terms is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Glossaries of food and drink, Oenology, Wine terminology, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Glossary of wine terms outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Glossary of wine terms in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is Glossary of wine terms in simple terms?

Why does Glossary of wine terms matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Glossary of wine terms?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Glossary of wine terms.