Wine Terms = Wine knowledge

glossary of terms
acidity – acidity in a wine will make your mouth water. The more acidity in the wine, the more your mouth will salivate – think lemons, grapefruits, and sour cherries. When in balance with other elements of a wine, acid is a good thing!

aging – As the saying goes, the older the wiser. This is the same concept for a well aged wine. Some wines taste better over time and others taste better young – right after bottling in some cases. Like with people the appearance of wine can change once it has aged; from rich violet to a dark velvety red, pale yellow to a bright gold. The tannins, similar to gray hairs, in an aged wine can add more depth and character over the years. Tannin and Acid levels are often determining factors in deciding whether a wine is worthy of putting away and opening years down the road.

aroma – Simply put, the aroma of a wine is whatever you smell. Common aromas found in wine include fruity, earthy, floral, and woody smells.

body – In describing the body of a wine, your palate plays the part of your eyes and is used to describe the weight, and texture of the wine. The terms light, medium, or full bodied is used to described the overall feeling in your mouth.

balance – A great wine is all about balance. All the traits and characteristics of the wine come together to become one. With great wines, each component of the wine is just right, ultimately complimenting one another.

corked – Is when those genuine cork capsules traditionally used in the bottling process sometimes are tainted with the chemical compound “TCA”. The result is a wine that smells something like a moldy, wet towel sitting for three days in a locker room.

complex – Swirl that wine around, stick your nose in the glass, and take a sip – what do you get? If there’s a WHOLE LOT going on, then that wine is complex. Complex wines usually have several different aromas and tastes that can be identified: several different types of fruit, and many non-fruit flavors like earth, leather, and often these characteristics will change throughout the time the wine is enjoyed.

- Courtesy of a PoiZ Wine Supporter - Love 'N Wine's Blog