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.

Winemaking

Sulfites

Sulfur dioxide compounds used as a preservative in wine to maintain freshness and provide antibacterial and antioxidant protection. Sulfites also occur naturally in small amounts as a byproduct of fermentation. Wines labeled contains sulfites in the United States contain more than 10 parts per million of detectable sulfur dioxide.

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Aging The time during which wine components develop and integrate to produce the flavo… Alcoholic Fermentation The conversion of grape sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide by yeast. Amphora A clay vessel used for fermenting, aging, or storing wine. Barrel Fermentation Fermentation carried out in wooden barrels rather than only in tank. Blending The combining of wines, grapes, lots, barrels, vineyards, or vintages to create … Carbonic Maceration A fermentation approach in which whole grapes ferment in a low-oxygen, carbon di… Chaptalization The addition of sugar to must before or during fermentation to raise potential a… Cold Soak A cool pre-fermentation maceration used to extract color and aroma compounds bef… Concrete Vessel A concrete tank or vessel used for fermentation or aging. Crush The breaking of grape skins to release juice or start processing. Cuvée A blend or specially selected lot of wine. The term is widely used in Champagne … Destemming The removal of grape stems before fermentation or pressing. Extraction The movement of color, tannin, flavor, and other compounds from grape skins, see… Fermentation The biochemical process by which yeast converts sugars in grape juice into alcoh… Fermentation Temperature The temperature at which fermentation is conducted. Filtering A step in the wine-making process in which wine is passed through a filter mediu… Lees Aging Aging wine in contact with lees. Maceration Contact between grape solids and juice or wine to extract color, tannin, aroma, … Malolactic Conversion The microbial conversion of sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid. Must Freshly crushed grape juice, skins, seeds, and sometimes stems before or during … Native Yeast Yeasts present in the vineyard or winery environment rather than a selected comm… Oak Character Aromas, flavors, or textures associated with oak barrels, vats, staves, or chips… Pressing The separation of juice or wine from grape solids by pressure. Pump-Over A cap-management technique in which fermenting juice is pumped over the floating… Punch-Down A cap-management technique in which the cap of skins is pushed down into ferment… Stabilization Processes used to reduce the risk of haze, crystals, refermentation, or other ch… Stainless Steel A neutral, cleanable vessel material widely used for fermentation and storage. Sulfites Sulfur dioxide compounds used as a preservative in wine to maintain freshness an… Viniculture The study and science of grape cultivation as it pertains to wine production, en… Whole-Cluster Fermentation Fermentation using intact grape clusters, including stems. Yeast Microorganisms that convert grape sugar into alcohol, carbon dioxide, and fermen…