Describing wine is an art form that can enhance your enjoyment and appreciation of each glass. As you explore the world of wine, you will encounter a fascinating vocabulary used to capture the complex characteristics of this beloved beverage.
Understanding these descriptions is key to deciphering the subtle nuances in flavor, aroma, and texture that a wine presents.
Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or a curious novice, learning the lingo can transform your tasting experience and help you communicate your preferences more effectively.
The bouquet of a wine, often described as its aroma, is like a gateway into its soul, giving you hints about its origin, the grape varieties used, and the winemaking processes it underwent.
When you sip the wine, the journey continues as your palate distinguishes different fruit notes, assesses the balance between sweetness and acidity, and feels the weight or body of the wine.
Over time, you learn to identify how factors like terroir – the environment where the grapes are grown – and aging in oak barrels influence the taste profile.
Engaging with these descriptive terms not only sharpens your sensory evaluation skills but also enriches your conversations with fellow wine enthusiasts.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding wine descriptions can deepen your enjoyment of wine tasting.
- The language of wine encompasses aromas, flavors, and the effect of terroir.
- Descriptive terms help communicate personal preferences and enhance learning.
Understanding Wine Descriptions
When you’re reading wine descriptions, it’s like having a conversation with a sommelier. They guide you through the flavors and aromas a wine presents. Think of it as a roadmap to what your senses can expect.
- Flavors: Descriptive terms range from fruits to spices.
- For example, a wine might have hints of berries or vanilla depending on the grape and aging process.
- Aroma: This encompasses the scents that rise from a glass of wine. Aromas can be floral, fruity, earthy, or even like fresh baked bread.
- Texture: This refers to how the wine feels in your mouth. Words like “creamy” or “silky” are common descriptors for a lush, smooth texture.
Here’s a brief explainer on common terms you might encounter:
- Wine Terms:
- Full-bodied: A wine that is rich and complex, often with higher alcohol content.
- Tannins: They contribute to the structure and dryness of the wine.
- Acidity: It’s what gives wine its tartness and zest.
| Structure | Descriptors |
|---|---|
| Light-bodied | Refreshing, delicate |
| Medium-bodied | Balanced, smooth |
| Full-bodied | Robust, intense |
Remember, describing wine is subjective. Your personal taste will influence how you describe what you’re drinking.
Engage all your senses to fully appreciate the texture and aroma. This will enhance your enjoyment and help you articulate the experience.
The Influence of Terroir
When you sip a glass of wine, its flavor profile carries the essence of the vineyard it originated from. This is due to terroir.
Terroir is the set of environmental factors that affect a crop’s phenotype, including unique environment contexts, farming practices, and a crop’s specific growth habitat. Think of it as the wine’s birthmark.
Terroir influences wine in several ways, particularly through the soil types where the vines grow.
For example, soil with high amounts of flint tends to impart a characteristic minerality to the wine, while rocks and gravel in the soil can improve drainage and reflect heat upwards. Grapes from these soils can exhibit complex, concentrated flavors.
In regions with salty sea breezes or soil with saline properties, the resulting wines might have a subtle savory salinity, enhancing their unique taste.
Imagine tasting the earth itself—earthly and minerality elements play a significant role in the wine’s final characteristics.
Here are the key takeaways related to terroir:
- Soil Composition: Heavily influences a grape’s profile.
- Flint-heavy soils can add a mineral edge.
- Rocks and gravel aid in heat retention and water drainage.
- Microclimate: The small climate zone where the vine lives impacts ripeness and flavors.
- Cultural Practices: Vintners’ choices in nurturing the vines bring out distinct notes.
Experiencing Wine Flavors
When you taste wine, the flavors you experience are as complex and varied as the wine itself. Each sip can bring a multitude of fruit flavors ranging from the bright zestiness of citrus to the rich sweetness of jammy fruits.
For example, a fruit-forward pinot noir may remind you of ripe berries, while a sauvignon blanc often has a crisp, green apple character.
Here’s a quick guide to interpreting some wine flavor descriptors:
- Fruity: You’ll notice flavors like berries, peaches, or tropical fruits.
- Citrus: Expect to find lemon, lime, or grapefruit nuances.
- Tart: A wine that feels sharp or sour, often characteristic of high acidity.
- Jammy: Wines that have a concentrated fruit flavor, similar to fruit preserve.
- Herbaceous: Flavors that remind you of green or fresh herbs.
The taste of oak is another important aspect, with terms such as toasty, oaky, and vanilla hinting at a wine’s time spent in oak barrels.
Wines such as chardonnay can take on buttery or vanilla notes from oak aging or fermentation techniques.
Tannins contribute to the texture or mouthfeel of a wine, adding astringency that can feel gritty or velvety.
Tannins are often present in full-bodied reds like cabernet sauvignon, giving the wine structure and the potential to age.
Wines can be light and lively, with high acidity creating a refreshing sensation, or they can be opulent and rich, filling the palate with layered complexity.
| Terms | Texture | Acidity |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | Smooth, velvety | Low |
| Gritty | Dense, rough | N/A |
| Zesty | Brisk, sharp | High |
Finally, don’t forget the finish. A smooth finish speaks to how pleasant the flavors linger after you swallow, while an elegant wine may impress with its balanced finesse.
Identifying Fruit Characteristics
When you’re tasting wine, recognizing the fruit characteristics can greatly enhance your appreciation of what’s in your glass. These flavors can vary widely, from fruit-forward to subtly fruity nuances.
- Fruit-forward wines jump out with rich, ripe fruit flavors that are easy to identify right away. Think of them as the life of the party – bold and outgoing.
- Fruity wines may be less intense but still carry a clear echo of orchard or tropical fruits in their profile.
Here’s how you can identify specific fruit flavors:
Citrus Fruits:
Look for brisk and refreshing notes like lemon and lime. These typically indicate a wine has citrus characteristics.
Citrus flavors are often found in white wines and are associated with a more tart flavor profile.
Stone and Orchard Fruits:
This group includes flavors like peach, apricot, and apple. They might give your wine a juicy quality that’s quite inviting.
These flavors can be subtle or quite prominent, depending on the wine.
Berries and Red Fruits:
Notice flavors like strawberry, raspberry, or cherry? These can range from tart to jammy.
Jammy refers to a richer, more concentrated fruit flavor – like fruit preserves in a bottle.
Tropical and Exotic Fruits:
If you detect hints of mango, banana, or pineapple, you’re experiencing the exotic side of the fruit spectrum.
These flavors are often found in fuller-bodied white wines.
Green Fruits:
When your wine hints at green apple or pear, it’s showing its green fruit qualities.
This suggests freshness and sometimes a crisp acidity.
Aromas and Bouquet
When you’re exploring the world of wine, the aromas and bouquet of a wine captivate and communicate its story.
Differentiating between the two is your first step.
The term aroma refers to the fresh and primary smells directly from the grapes, often fruity or floral. Meanwhile, bouquet develops over time with aging in the bottle and hints at more complex characteristics.
Aroma: The Fresh Fragrance
- Fruit-driven: Expect to encounter notes such as citrus, berries, or tropical fruits.
- Herbal tones: Descriptors like fresh herbs, grass, or green bell pepper can come forward, especially in wines like Sauvignon Blanc.
Bouquet: The Complexity of Aging
- Oaky notes: The scent of vanilla or toasty wood is a signature of aging in oak barrels.
- Earth and Spice: With time, wines can develop bouquet notes resembling tobacco, smoke, or baking spices.
Understanding these characteristics elevates your wine-tasting prowess.
You’ll start to pinpoint specific scents like herbaceous freshness or spicy undercurrents, revealing more about the grape varieties and winemaking techniques behind each bottle.
Consider the environment, too; a whiff of smoke in a glass of Syrah hints at its origin from a region with a tradition of smoking vines.
Should your Merlot have hints of cinnamon, it’s revealing baking spices often associated with the oaky character from the barrels in which it aged.
Tune in to these nuances – they’re your sensory route to the heart of wine’s creation and evolution.
Wine Texture and Body
When you explore the texture and body of wine, you’re delving into its physical presence inside your mouth. These characteristics are pivotal in how you perceive and enjoy your wine.
Texture refers to the tactile sensation you experience. Terms like velvety, smooth, or gritty articulate how wine feels as it glides over your palate.
Consider a velvety red for a silky encounter, whereas a gritty texture might suggest the presence of tannins felt on your tongue.
The body of wine, on the other hand, is akin to the weight of the liquid on your palate.
Just as milk ranges from skim to whole, wines can be light, medium, or full-bodied.
| Wine Body | Common Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Light | Delicate, subtle, refreshing |
| Medium | Balanced, nuanced, versatile |
| Full | Intense, concentrated, powerful |
Consider the mouthfeel of wine as its overall impression.
A soft and supple mouthfeel implies a pleasant, easy-drinking texture, while dense wines offer a robust, often chewy sensation.
Wines with finesse not only captivate with flavor but carry an elegance and refinement in texture.
Tasting Notes on Tannins and Acidity
When you sip a glass of wine, tannins and acidity are two crucial components that define its taste and structure. Understanding these elements can enhance your wine-tasting experience.
Tannins:
- Feeling: Contributes to the dry, mouth-puckering sensation.
- Taste: Often described as bitter, similar to what you might experience with a strong cup of tea.
- Found in: Red wines, coming mainly from grape skins, seeds, and stems.
Tannins add complexity and are vital for the aging potential of wine.
They can range from silky and soft to robust and angular.
Acidity:
- Feeling: Makes your mouth water, offering a zesty or brisk impression.
- Taste Profile: If a wine has high acidity, it might remind you of the tartness of a lemon.
Wine with adequate acidity often feels bright and refreshing.
| Tasting Term | Implication |
|---|---|
| Dry | Tannin presence that isn’t masked by sweetness |
| Zesty | Energetic acidity that can enhance the freshness of the wine |
| Angular | Harsh tannins or unbalanced acidity |
| High Acidity | Prominent tartness, often making the wine more refreshing |
| Bright | Vibrant acidity that livens up the wine |
Evaluating Sweetness and Alcohol
When you’re tasting wine, tuning into the sweetness and alcohol content can offer you a lot of insight into the wine’s character. Let’s break down how you can evaluate these aspects.
Sweetness in wine is derived from the residual sugar (RS) that remains unfermented during the wine-making process.
You might encounter terms like dry, off-dry, medium-sweet, or sweet, and these relate closely to the RS levels in the wine.
A dry wine, for instance, has very little residual sugar, while a sweet wine has much more.
Here’s a simple scale for sweetness:
- Dry
- Off-dry
- Medium-sweet
- Sweet
Moving on to alcohol, it’s a byproduct of fermentation where sugars are converted into alcohol.
Wines with a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) tend to taste bolder and give a warmer sensation on the palate.
Generally, a wine with higher ABV might also appear less sweet, since more sugar has been converted to alcohol.
To describe the body of the wine, which is influenced by alcohol content, we use descriptors such as:
- Racy: A high-acid, well-balanced wine
- Flabby: Lacking in acid, can feel heavy or unbalanced
- Fat: Rich and full-bodied, often with higher alcohol content
| Wine Characteristic | Sweetness Level | Alcohol Presence |
|---|---|---|
| Racy | Usually low | Balanced |
| Flabby | Can vary | Lacking acidity |
| Fat | Often low | High |
Assessing Balance and Finish
When you’re savouring a glass of wine, balance and finish are two essential components that elevate your tasting experience.
To assess the balance in wine, consider how the elements like acidity, tannins, fruit, and alcohol harmoniously blend. A balanced wine won’t have any component overpowering the others; rather, everything will feel in sync—like an elegant dance of flavors on your palate.
Now, let’s talk about the finish. This term refers to the lingering taste left in your mouth after you’ve taken a sip. A smooth finish might feel creamy and pleasing, while an opulent wine often has a luxurious, almost grand aftertaste that stays with you. Remember, a high-quality wine typically has a long and pleasant finish.
Here’s a quick guide on how to assess wine balance and finish:
- Acidity vs. Sweetness: Too much acidity can make the wine taste tart, too much sweetness can seem cloying. A good balance means neither overpowers the other.
- Tannins vs. Fruit: Tannins provide structure, but too much can cause bitterness. Well-balanced wines integrate tannins with fruit profiles for a harmonious taste.
- Alcohol: It should support, not dominate, the flavor.
When testing for finish:
- Take a moment after swallowing. What flavors or sensations linger?
- Consider the length of time the taste remains. A prolonged, enjoyable aftertaste is a sign of a quality wine.
Exploring Wine Age and Oak Influence
When you delve into the world of wine, the age of a bottle and the use of oak barrels during fermentation can profoundly affect the flavor profile. Aging wine allows it to develop complexity and depth. The term vintage refers to the year the grapes were harvested; a good vintage year can indicate favorable weather conditions for grape growth.
Oak influence plays a pivotal role too. Wines fermented or aged in oak barrels acquire distinct characteristics:
- Oaked wines often exhibit vanilla, spice, and toast flavors.
- The type of oak (American or French) dictates the intensity of these flavors.
- The size and age of the barrels also influence the extent of oakiness.
| Oak Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| French Oak | Subtle, silky tannins; imparts a sweet sensation |
| American Oak | Bolder flavors; can add coconut or caramel notes |
The time wine spends in oak and the barrel’s previous uses (new vs. old) can add layers of complexity to your favorite wine. An old barrel might impart a more mellow oakiness, while new barrels provide a more pronounced oak character.
Not all wines benefit from the same treatment. Wines like Sauvignon Blanc are usually best when they’re young and fresh, while others, like a robust Cabernet Sauvignon, often mellow and improve with age and oaked subtleties.
Choosing between an oaked or unoaked wine depends on your tasting preferences—do you enjoy bold and spiced or fresh and fruity? It’s all about the harmony between the grape, the age, and the oak.
Characteristic Wine Descriptions by Varietal
When you’re choosing a bottle of wine, understanding the varietal characteristics can enhance your enjoyment and appreciation. Each type of wine is distinct, expressing flavors and aromas that are unique to its grape variety.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Known for its full body and firm tannins, this red wine offers tastes of dark fruits like black cherry and notes of green pepper. The aging process often introduces hints of vanilla when oak-aged.
Merlot: Often smoother than Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is medium-bodied with a softer texture, featuring flavors such as ripe plum and red fruits with a touch of herbal aromas.
Pinot Noir: A red varietal with a lighter body and higher acidity, offering fresh red berry flavors like raspberry, with earthy undertones. Its complexity is well-suited to a variety of palates.
Syrah: Also known as Shiraz, it presents bold flavors of blackberry and black currant, often accented by spicy, peppery notes, full body, and smooth tannins.
Chardonnay: As a white varietal, it ranges from apple and lemon flavors in cooler regions to tropical fruits when grown in warmer areas. Oak aging can add buttery richness and a hint of vanilla.
Sauvignon Blanc: A crisp, dry white wine with high acidity. You’ll catch flavors of green apple, lime, and gooseberry, paired with distinctive grassy and herbal notes making it refreshing and zesty.
Remember, the descriptions above are general profiles. Your personal experience can vary greatly depending on the wine’s region, winemaking process, and aging. So, keep an open mind and taste broadly to discover your favorite varietals!
Describing Wine Body and Weight
When you’re trying to articulate your experience with wine, body and weight are crucial concepts. Consider body as how heavy or light a wine feels in your mouth, akin to the difference between skim milk and whole milk.
Light-bodied wines are often associated with being lively and easy to drink. They usually have lower alcohol content and can be as refreshing as a cool glass of water on a hot day. Think of a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a delicate Pinot Grigio.
Moving on to medium-bodied wines, you’ll notice these are like the perfect middle ground, offering more substance than light-bodied wines, but without overwhelming your palate. These wines often fall within the 12.5% to 13.5% alcohol range and include versatile varieties such as Rosé or French Burgundy.
Heavy-bodied wines, or full-bodied wines, provide a robust experience. They’re the big and bold characters in the world of wine, with high alcohol content and rich flavors that command attention. Examples include a dense Cabernet Sauvignon or a plush Merlot.
Remember, rich can refer to both the flavor and the texture—a wine might be rich because it’s packed with fruity flavors or because it has a creamier, more substantial feel in your mouth.
Here’s a quick guide to help you:
- Light-Bodied Wine: Feels similar to drinking water; lively, refreshing.
- Medium-Bodied Wine: More substance; often ranging between 12.5%-13.5% alcohol.
- Heavy-Bodied Wine: Bold and dense; high in alcohol, rich in flavor.
Think of these descriptors like friends who bring different vibes to your dinner party—the light and lively ones who keep things breezy, the steadfast companions in the middle, and the bold personalities who make a statement.
Pairing Wine with Food
When you’re selecting a wine to complement your meal, think about balance and harmony. Your goal is to match the intensity and flavors of both the food and the wine.
Here’s a simple guide to help you make the best matches:
Savory dishes often benefit from a wine that can cut through the richness. If your meal has a hearty umami character, consider a wine with good acidity or tannins to balance the flavors.
For creamy sauces or dishes, you’ll want a wine that offers a crisp contrast. A light-bodied white wine with vibrant acidity can cut through the creaminess and refresh your palate.
Here’s a quick reference on pairing styles:
| Food Style | Wine Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Savory | Bold Reds or Crisp Whites |
| Creamy | Acidic Whites or Sparkling Wines |
Always remember that personal preference is key. Trust your taste and don’t be afraid to try new combinations. After all, the best pairing is one that you enjoy.
Wine Serving and Storage
Taking proper care of your wine ensures that each bottle can be enjoyed at its best. The right temperature for serving and the correct storage conditions play a pivotal role in preserving the wine’s quality and flavor profile.
Serving Wine at the Right Temperature
When you serve wine, the temperature is key. Serving a wine at the right temperature can accentuate its best features.
- Crisp, white wines are most refreshing when served cool, typically between 45°F to 50°F.
- Full-bodied whites and light, fruity reds taste best slightly warmer, from 50°F to 60°F.
- Bold red wines shine when served at a warm but not hot temperature, around 60°F to 65°F.
You can achieve these temperatures by placing the bottle in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving or using a wine chiller.
Storing Wine for Quality Preservation
Correct storage is essential to preserve your wine’s integrity over time. Here are specific tips to keep in mind:
- Temperature: Store your wine in a cool, stable environment, ideally around 55°F.
- Humidity: Aim for about 60% to 70% humidity in your storage area to ensure the corks don’t dry out.
- Position: Keep bottles horizontal to keep the cork moist. This prevents it from shrinking and allowing air to enter the bottle.
Whether using a dedicated wine cellar or a storage unit, these conditions will help maintain the quality and longevity of your wine.
Sensory Evaluation Techniques
In the complex world of wine tasting, your sensory evaluations play a crucial role in dissecting the character and quality of a wine. Each assessment—from eye to nose to palate—works in concert to deliver a comprehensive understanding.
Visual Aspects of Wine Tasting
Before you take a sip, observe the wine’s color and clarity.
The color can vary dramatically, from deep purples to pale yellows, and reveals clues about the grape variety, age, and possibly the winemaking process.
Clarity and visibility give you an insight into the wine’s condition and can signal potential faults.
Olfactory Evaluation
Raise the glass to your nose and take a deep inhale to experience the wine’s aroma or nose.
The smell and scent provide critical information before tasting, such as the grape variety, terroir, and even the wine’s maturity.
Evaluating through inhalation can uncover layers of complex fragrances that can be fruity, floral, earthy, or mineral in nature.
Taste and Palate Analysis
The moment the wine touches your palate, you’re presented with a symphony of taste and textures.
Here, you will assess the sweetness, acidity, tannin levels, alcohol content, and body of the wine.
Every nuance adds to the wine’s overall flavor profile, whether it be bold, subtle, balanced, or layered.
Overall Drinking Experience
Finally, contemplate the experience, which extends beyond mere taste. It includes the enjoyment, pleasure, and satisfaction derived from drinking the wine.
It brings together all sensory evaluations to determine if the wine offers a harmonious and memorable experience.
Navigating Wine Terminology
When you explore the world of wines, you’ll encounter a unique lexicon that enhances your ability to describe and appreciate different varieties.
Mastering this jargon can seem daunting, but a basic understanding of key terms will elevate your wine conversations.
Tannins: These are natural compounds present in grape skins. They can make a wine feel dry or astringent in your mouth. A wine with high tannins might be described as robust or structured.
Body: Refers to the weight and fullness of the wine on your palate. Think of it like the difference between skim milk (light-bodied) and cream (full-bodied).
Acidity: This gives wine its tart and crisp quality. A wine with high acidity might be referred to as zesty or fresh.
Sweetness: The level of residual sugar in the wine after fermentation affects its sweetness. Terms like dry, off-dry, semi-sweet, and sweet help classify this aspect.
Aroma vs. Bouquet: Aroma is used to describe the smell of the wine from the grape and fermentation process, while bouquet refers to the complex scents from aging in the bottle.
To confidently navigate wine glossary, start with these foundational terms. They are the building blocks of the language that will help you describe your wine experiences more vividly.
As you taste different wines, try using these terms to articulate the sensations and flavors you encounter.
The Role of a Sommelier
When you step into a fine dining establishment, a sommelier is your go-to wine expert. Their role extends beyond just pouring a glass; they are integral in enhancing the dining experience with their sophisticated knowledge of wine.
As a guide in the world of wines, their duties encompass a broad spectrum –
Wine Selection: A sommelier curates a diverse wine list tailored to the establishment’s cuisine and clientele preferences.
Inventory Management: Meticulously maintaining the wine cellar, they ensure wines are stocked at optimal levels, factoring in variety and vintage.
Education and Recommendation: Always ready to educate, they help you understand the nuances of each wine. Do you favor a bold red or a crisp white? They’ll find the perfect match for your palate and your meal.
Wine Service: With grace and precision, they serve wine in the proper glassware, at the right temperature, enhancing its characteristics.
Hospitality: Their expertise creates memorable experiences, making you feel valued with personalized recommendations.
| Aspect | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | In-depth understanding of vineyards, grape varieties, and wine-making techniques |
| Service | Observant of wine etiquette and flawless presentation |
| Customization | Tailors wine choices to individual preferences and food pairings |
Discussing Wine Aesthetics
Wine aesthetics encompass the artistic elements and visual presentation, with each bottle offering a unique form of expression. Recognizing the artistic craft behind wine can enhance your appreciation for each sip.
Wine as an Art Form
Artistry and craft in winemaking go beyond the taste. They incorporate the winemaker’s expression and creativity.
Like a painter on a canvas, each winemaker applies a personal touch, from the selection of grapes to the nuances of aging, resulting in a bottle that captures a moment of their artistic journey.
The Visual Presentation of Wine
The presentation of wine starts with its bottle and label design, which are integral to its uniqueness.
A carefully designed label does more than inform; it entices your curiosity, much like the cover of a book.
In addition, the way wine is presented to you, including the clarity and color of the wine itself, can be thought of as a visual expression of the wine’s character.
Emerging Trends in Wine
As you explore the evolving landscape of viticulture, you’ll discover that wine trends in 2024 are not just about taste—innovation and sustainability are at the core of new developments.
A major shift you’ll notice is in the packaging of wines: canned wine is rising in popularity due to its convenience and appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers.
This packaging revolution is particularly embraced by the global canned wine market, which is anticipated to grow significantly by 2028.
Another trend gaining momentum is the production and consumption of non-alcoholic wine.
The demand for low and no-alcohol wines has surged, as you may have seen more of these options in stores. This reflects a broader trend of health awareness and inclusive socializing experiences.
- Sustainably Produced Wines: Eco-friendly practices are becoming increasingly popular, with vintners focusing on organic, biodynamic, and sustainable farming methods.
- Skin-Contact Wines: Often referred to as “orange wines,” these are made by leaving the grape skins in contact with the juice during fermentation, adding complexity and depth to the wine’s flavor.
| Trend | Description | Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| Canned Wine | Portable and eco-friendly | *** |
| Non-Alcoholic Wine | Inclusive and health-conscious | **** |
| Skin-Contact Wines | Unique flavors from extended skin contact | *** |
Conclusion
Mastering wine descriptions enhances your ability to share your tasting experiences with others. When you describe wine, you’re painting a picture with words.
Remember, your personal taste is unique, and what you detect may differ from what others perceive. Don’t be afraid to trust your palate and use the terms that feel right to you.
Here are a few tips to keep in your toolkit:
- Aroma and Bouquet: Use phrases like “hints of” or “notes of” to describe these subtle complexities. A wine might have aromas of green apple or a bouquet evoking oak.
- Body and Texture: Is the wine light-bodied like silk on your tongue or full-bodied like velvet?
- Flavor Profile: Mention if the wine is fruity, spicy, earthy, or has floral notes.
- Acidity, Tannins, and Sweetness: Describe the wine’s balance. Is it crisp (high acidity), astringent (high tannins), or perhaps lusciously sweet?
Engage in wine tastings to expand your vocabulary and confidence. Your descriptions will become more precise and expressive with practice.
Above all, enjoy the journey through the wonderful world of wine. Cheers to your next glass of discovery!
