Taste Decoder

Wine words, in plain English.

Somebody said the wine is “flabby”? The label says “sur lie”? Look it up — 200+ terms decoded, no jargon in the definitions.

Label terms

Prädikat

What it means in wine

Prädikat categories include Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese. They do not by themselves tell the reader whether the finished wine is dry.

Why it matters

Use current German wine sources for detailed rules and label guidance.

Want it explained for your bottle? Ask Scott about “Prädikat”.

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ABV Abbreviation for alcohol by volume, the standard measure of how much ethanol a w… AOC A French protected-origin term historically meaning Appellation d’Origine Contrô… AOP Appellation d’Origine Protégée, the French form of the EU Protected Designation … AVA The common abbreviation for American Viticultural Area. American Viticultural Area A defined grape-growing region in the United States, usually abbreviated AVA. Appellation A legally or officially recognized geographic origin used on wine labels. Capsule The foil or protective covering that wraps around the cork and upper neck of a w… Château Originally a term for a wine estate in the Bordeaux region of France. Now used m… Crianza A Spanish aging term used in certain appellations, especially for red wines. DO Denominación de Origen, a Spanish protected-origin category. DOC Denominazione di Origine Controllata, an Italian protected-origin wine category. DOCG Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, an Italian protected-origin ca… DOCa Denominación de Origen Calificada, a Spanish category used for highly regulated … Estate Bottled A label term indicating that the winery or vineyard that grew the grapes also vi… Geographical Indication A protected place-based name used for agricultural products, including wine. Grand Vin French for great wine, used to identify the primary or flagship wine produced by… IGP Indication Géographique Protégée, the French form of the EU Protected Geographic… Kabinett A German Prädikat term traditionally associated with lighter wines from ripe gra… Non-Vintage A wine blended from grapes harvested in more than one year. Non-vintage wines al… PDO Protected Designation of Origin, an EU quality category for products closely lin… PGI Protected Geographical Indication, an EU quality category linked to a geographic… Premier Cru A French term meaning “first growth,” used differently by region. Private Reserve A term used by wineries to suggest a higher-quality tier of wine. In the United … Prädikat A German classification term historically tied to grape must weight at harvest. Reserve A term used on wine labels in the United States and other countries to suggest a… Single Vineyard A wine made from grapes grown in one named vineyard. Trocken A German label term for dry wine. Varietal Wine A wine labeled primarily by grape variety. Vintage The year in which the grapes for a wine were harvested. Wine Label The descriptive information affixed to a wine bottle that identifies key details…