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Common Wine Terms
You'll encounter a variety of terms as you explore the world of wine in general and get to know more about Iowa wines in particular. Following are some of the more commonly used terms and their definitions.
Acidity
The presence of natural fruit acids that lend a tart, crisp taste to wine
Aroma
Smells in wine that originate from the grape
Astringent
Bitter; gives a drying sensation in the mouth
Balanced
All components of the wine are in harmony
Barrel Fermented
White wine that is fermented in an oak barrel instead of a stainless steel tank
Body
The weight and tactile impression of the wine on the palate that ranges from light to heavy/full
Bouquet
Smells from winemaking, aging and bottle aging
Buttery
Rich, creamy flavor associated with malolactic fermentation
Character
Describes distinct attributes of a wine
Chewy
Wine that has a very deep, textured and mouth-filling sensation
Clean
Wine without disagreeable aromas or tastes
Closed
Wine that needs to open up; aging and/or decanting can help
Complex
Layered aromas, flavors and textures
Cooked
Wine that has been exposed to excessively high temperatures; spoiled
Corked
Wine that has been tainted with moldy smells or other obvious flaws from a bad cork
Light, soft and fresh wine
Dry
No sugar or sweetness remaining; a fruity wine can be dry
Earthy
Flavors and aromas of mushroom, soil and mineral
Elegance
A well balanced, full wine with pleasant, distinct character
Finish
The final impression of a wine on the palate; ranges from short to long
Firm
Texture and structure of a young, tannic red
Flabby/Flat
Lacking in acidity, mouth-feel, structure and/or texture
Fleshy
A soft textured wine
Flinty
A mineral tone, aroma or flavor
Floral
Flower aromas such as rose petals, violets, gardenia or honeysuckle
Fruity
Obvious fruit aromas and flavors; not to be confused with sweet flavors such as berries, cherries and citrus
Full-Bodied
Rich, mouth filling, weighty-textured wine
Grassy
Aromas and flavors of fresh cut grass or fresh herbs
Green
Unripe, tart flavors
Hard
Texture and structure that hinders flavor
Herbaceous
Grassy, vegetable tones and aromas
Lean
Wine is thin and tastes more acidic than fruity
Legs
Teardrop impressions of alcohol weightiness that are visible on the inside edges of a wine glass
Lively
Young, fruity and vivacious flavor
Malolactic
Conversion of hard, malic acid (green apple flavors) in wine to soft, lactic acid (rich, butter flavors)
Medium-Bodied
A wine with solid, but not rich weight and texture
Nose
The smell of a wine; aroma
Oak
Aromas and flavors contributed during barrel fermentation and/or aging such as
vanilla, caramel, chocolate, smoke, spice or toast
Off-Dry (Semi-dry)
Very low levels of residual sugar remaining in the wine
Rich
Weighty flavors and texture
Round
Smooth flavors and texture; well-balanced
Smoky/Toasty
Aromas of smoke and toast imparted by fired barrels
Sweet
Wines that have a higher concentration of sugar after fermentation
Tannin
A drying, astringent sensation on the palate that is generally
associated with heavier red wines
Terroir
French word reflecting the expression of soil, topography and climate in a wine
Thin
Wine is unpleasantly watery and lacks flavor and texture
Vegetal
Herbal, weedy aromas and flavors
Velvety
Wine is unpleasantly watery and lacks flavor and texture
Vintage
Year that grapes were harvested and fermented to make a wine
