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.
Tasting
Body
What it means in wine
Body is shaped by alcohol, extract, sugar, tannin, acidity, and winemaking choices. Wines are often described as light-bodied, medium-bodied, or full-bodied.
Why it matters
Body helps consumers choose wines by feel: crisp and light for refreshment, fuller and richer for weightier foods or slower sipping.
Want it explained for your bottle? Ask Scott about “Body”.
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Acidity
The fresh, mouthwatering structure in wine that can make it feel bright, crisp, …
Alcohol
The ethanol in wine, usually shown on labels as alcohol by volume.
Aroma
The smell of a wine, especially the scents perceived before tasting.
Balance
The way a wine’s major elements work together so that none feels out of place.
Body
The perceived weight or fullness of wine in the mouth.
Bouquet
The developed smell of a wine, often used for aromas that emerge with age or mat…
Complexity
The presence of multiple, integrated aroma and flavor dimensions in a wine.
Finish
The flavor and sensation that remain after swallowing or spitting wine.
Fruit Character
The fruit-like flavors and aromas perceived in wine.
Herbaceous
A tasting descriptor for green, leafy, grassy, or herbal aromas and flavors.
Intensity
The strength of a wine’s aromas or flavors.
Minerality
A common tasting term for stony, chalky, saline, flinty, or mineral-like impress…
Mouthfeel
The physical sensations wine creates on the palate.
Primary Aromas
Aromas mainly associated with grape variety and fermentation fruit expression.
Secondary Aromas
Aromas associated with winemaking and maturation choices.
Sweetness
The perception of sugar or sweet taste in wine.
Tannin
A structural compound that creates drying, gripping, or astringent sensations, e…
Tertiary Aromas
Aromas that develop as wine ages in bottle or over longer maturation.
Texture
The tactile feel of wine in the mouth.
Typicity
The degree to which a wine resembles the expected style of its grape, place, or …