So we’ve arrived at the end of our wine vocabulary journey, the end of the alphabet that is, don’t worry though there are still plenty of wine words out there for you to discover! Zesty is a word used to describe wine with lively flavor characteristics, with noticeable acidity and citrus notes. We find this […]
Fresh baked bread, brioche, warm sourdough rolls, and baguettes…What do these baked goods and your favorite bottle of bubbly have in common? The answer: Yeast! These micro organisms are responsible for making our bread rise and wine sparkle. Sparkling wines have extended contact with yeast during the fermentation process which is what gives us the yeasty or […]
Anise, cinnamon, cloves, pepper and other well known spices are often lumped together and called spicy. Pungent aromas and flavors reminiscent of various spices are often present in complex wines. Certain grape varities that tend to favor this spicy quality include Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Grenache, Shiraz, and even some Zinfandels. Looking to spice up your summer? […]
Find apples and pears and little too pedestrian? Perhaps quince is the fruit you’ve been searching for! This ancient fruit is thought to be the predecessor of the modern day apple. In ancient Greece, the quince was a ritual offering at weddings. A small deciduous tree bearing a pome fruit, similar in appearance to a […]
Today’s word is used to describe robust wines of great substance. Powerful wines can be a bit overwhelming to the palates of those who prefer their wines on the mellow side. Despite their potent nature, these wines never lack a sense of balance, Â which is why this is viewed as a positive tasting descriptor. “Powerful” […]
Simply put, a wine with a noticeable perception of the effects of oak. This can also include the sense of sweet or baking spices, vanilla, butter, coconut a creamy body and a smoky or toasted flavor. These qualities are created by the use of oak barrels during the fermentation or aging process. Oak barrels are […]
This week’s word is one that has been growing in popularity, cropping up in tasting notes, reviews and used by critics, sommeliers, and wine makers alike. If you have been following our tasting notes series from the beginning you may be coming to the realization that many of the words we use to describe wine […]
Leather as a wine descriptor can refer to either the aroma or texture/ mouthfeel  of the wine. Like most terminology used to describe wine it is subjective, but the overall consensus seems to be that this is positive characteristic. Most of us are pretty familiar with the scent of leather. In terms of aroma it […]
Like many wine tasting descriptors “jammy” can be either positive or negative all depending on your personal palate and feelings on jam. So if you crave concord jelly, are mad about marionberries, or are ravenous for raspberry jam then wines with this quality might be right up your alley. A fruit forward wine is not […]
Intensity in wine is a term used to evaluate appearance and aroma. As a very general rule of thumb, the intensity of a wine’s color is directly proportional to the intensity of the wine’s flavor. Paler wines are generally milder while deep rich colors represent more robust flavors. To test the color intensity of […]
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