A

 A.B.V.

Abbreviation of alcohol by volume, generally listed on a wine label.

Altar wine

The wine used by the Catholic Church in celebrations of the Eucharist.

A.O.C.

Abbreviation for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, (English: Appellation of controlled origin), as specified under French law. The AOC laws specify and delimit the geography from which a particular wine (or other food product) may originate and methods by which it may be made. The regulations are administered by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO).

A.P. number

Abbreviation for Amtliche Prüfungsnummer, the official testing number displayed on a German wine label that shows that the wine was tasted and passed government quality control standards.

Aperitif

A wine that is either drunk by itself (i.e. without food) or before a meal in order to stimulate the appetite.  Can also refer to various specialty liqueurs and cocktails.

Appellation

A geographically delineated wine region.  A classification of a region where wine is produced.

Auslese

German for "select harvest", a Prädikat in Germany and Austria.  Generally a ranking of Riesling implying higher levels of residual sugar than a Kabinett or a Spatlese.

B

Balthazar

A large bottle containing 12 litres, the equivalent of 16 regular wine bottles.

Blind tasting

Tasting and evaluating wine without knowing what it is.  A fun experience for those with some wine knowledge (or those who THINK they have a lot of wine knowledge).

Bodega

A Spanish wine cellar. Also refers to a seller of alcoholic beverage.

Bottle

A bottle is a small container with a neck that is narrower than the body and a "mouth." Modern wine bottles are nearly always made of glass because it is nonporous, strong, and aesthetically pleasing.

Breathing

The interaction between air and wine after a wine has been opened. Breathing may take place while the wine is decanting, an important process for many more robust reds useful in softening and releasing the fullness of flavors. 

C

Capsule

The plastic or foil that covers the cork and part of the neck of a wine bottle.

Champagne flute

A piece of stemware having a long stem with a tall, narrow bowl on top.  Ideal, obviously, for drinking Champagne and other sparkling wines.

Château

Generally a winery in Bordeaux, although the term is sometimes used for wineries in other parts of the world, such as the Barossa Valley.

Claret

British name for Bordeaux wine. Is also a semi-generic term for a red wine in similar style to that of Bordeaux.

Classico

An Italian term for the historical or "classic" center of a wine region--sometimes located in the heart of a DOC.

Corkscrew

A tool, comprising a pointed metallic helix attached to a handle, for drawing Corks from bottles.  Many different forms exist, but most wine afficianado’s seem to be most comfortable using a standard waiter’s pull style corkscrew for everyday use. 

Côtes

French term for the hillside or slopes of one contiguous hill region.

Coteaux

French term for the hillside or slopes of a hill region that is not contiguous.

Country wine

A quality level intermediate between table wine and quality wine, which in France is known as vin de pays and in Italy as Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) . Also a synonym for Fruit wine.

Crémant

French sparkling wine not made in Champagne region.

Cru

A French term that literally means "growth". May refer to a vineyard or a winery.

Cult wines

Wines for which committed buyers will pay large sums of money because of their desirability and rarity.

Cuvaison

The French term for the period of time during alcoholic fermentation when the wine is in contact with the solid matter such as skin, pips, stalks, in order to extract colour, flavour and tannin. See also maceration.

Cuvée

French term, meaning vat or tank. On wine labels it is used to denote wine of a specific blend or batch.

building, used for "making wine." When the grapes are first picked, they arrive at the cuverie.

D

Decanting

The process of pouring wine from its bottle into a decanter to separate the sediment from the wine and allow optimal breathing to take place.

Dessert wine

Varies by region. In the UK, a very sweet, low alcohol wine. In the US by law, any wine containing over 15% alcohol.

DO

1. The abbreviation for Denominación de Origen, or "place name". This is Spain's designation for wines whose name, origin of grapes, grape varieties and other important factors are regulated by law.
2. The abbreviation for dissolved oxygen, the degree of oxygen saturation in a wine, which strongly affects oxidation of the wine and its ageing properties.

DOC

The abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or "controlled place name." This is Italy's designation for wine whose name, origin of grapes, grape varieties and other important factors are regulated by law. It is also the abbreviation for Portugal's highest wine category, which has the same meaning in that country.

DOCG

The abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, or controlled and guaranteed place name, which is the category for the highest-ranking wine in Italy.

E

Eiswein

German for ice wine, a dessert wine made from frozen grapes.

Estate winery

A United States winery license allowing farms to produce and sell wine on-site, sometimes known as a farm winery.

F

Fine wine

The highest category of wine quality, representing only a very small percentage of worldwide production of wine.

Fortified wine

Wine to which alcohol has been added, generally to increase the concentration to a high enough level to prevent fermentation.

French Paradox

An 1991 episode of the American news program 60 Minutes that documented the low mortality rate from cardiovascular disease among the French who had a high-alcohol, high-cholesterol and low exercise lifestyle in contrast to the high mortality rate among Americans with a relatively lower cholesterol, low alcohol and more exercise lifestyle.

Frizzante

Italian term for a semi-sparkling wine.

G

Grand cru

French term for a "Great growth" or vineyard. In Burgundy, the term is regulated to a define list of Grand cru vineyards.

H

Horizontal wine tasting

A tasting of a group of wines from the same vintage or representing the same style of wine (such as all Pinot noirs or all Washington wines) as oppose to a vertical tasting which consist of the same wine through different vintages,

I

Ice wine

Wine made from frozen grapes. Written, and trademarked as a single word - Icewine - in Canada. Called Eiswein in German.

IGT

Abbreviation for "Indicazione Geografica Tipica", the lowest-ranking of the three categories of Italian wine regulated by Italian law.

J

Jeroboam

A large bottle holding three litres, the equivalent of four regular wine bottles.

K

Kabinett

A wine designation in Germany (where it is a Prädikat) and Austria.  Generally in reference to Rieslings which contain a relatively smaller amount of residual sugar than other categories of Riesling, although further sub-classifications often exist which indicate how dry or sweet the wine is. 

Kosher wine

Wine that is produced under the supervision of a rabbi so as to be ritually pure or clean.

L

Late harvest wine

Also known as late picked, wine made from grapes that have been left on the vine longer than usual. Usually an indicator for a very sweet or dessert wine.

Litre (US - Liter)

A metric measure of volume equal to 33.8 fluid ounces (U.S.) or 35.2 fl oz (imperial).

M

Magnum

A bottle holding 1.5 litres, the equivalent of two regular wine bottles.

Master of Wine

A qualification (not an academic degree) conferred by The Institute of Masters of Wine, which is located in the United Kingdom.

Mead

A wine-like alcoholic beverage made of fermented honey and water rather than grape juice.

Meritage

Originally created in California, these blended wines can be summed up as the "American Bordeaux". The term is a blend of the words "merit" and "heritage" and pronounced the same. The Red blend is made from at least 2 of the 5 Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The White Meritage is a blend at least 2 of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Vert, and Semillon.

Methuselah

A large bottle holding six litres, the equivalent of eight regular wine bottles.

Mis en bouteille au château

French for "bottled at the winery", usually in Bordeaux.

Mulled wine

Wine that is spiced, heated, and served as a punch.

N

Nebuchadnezzar

A large bottle holding 15 litres, the equivalent of 20 regular wine bottles.

New World wine

Wines produced outside of the traditional wine growing areas of Europe and North Africa (Old World wines). 

Nose

The aroma or bouquet of a wine.

O

Oenophile

A wine aficionado or connoisseur.

Oenology

The study of aspects of wine and winemaking.

Old World wine

Wines produced inside of the traditional wine growing areas of Europe and North Africa.

P

Port

A sweet fortified wine, which is produced from grapes grown and processed in the Douro region of Portugal. This wine is fortified with the addition of distilled grape spirits in order to boost the alcohol content and stop fermentation thus preserving some of the natural grape sugars. Several imitations are made throughout the world.

Prädikat

A wine designation for high quality used in Germany and Austria, based on grape ripeness and must weight. There are several Prädikate ranging from Kabinett (Spätlese in Austria) to Trockenbeerenauslese.

Premier cru

French term for a "First growth". Used mostly in conjunction with the wines of Burgundy and Champagne where the term is regulated.

Premium wines

A subjective term to describe a higher quality classification of wine above every day drinking table wines. While premium wines maybe very expensive there is no set price point that distinguishes when a wine becomes a "premium wine". Premium wines generally have more aging potential than every day quaffing wines.

Q

Quaffing wine

A simple, everyday drinking wine

Quinta

Portuguese term for a wine estate.

R

Rehoboam

A large bottle holding 4.5 litres, the equivalent of six regular wine bottles.

Reserva

Spanish and Portuguese term for a reserve wine.

Reserve

A term given to wine to indicate that it is of higher quality than usual.

S

Salmanazar

A large bottle holding nine litres, the equivalent of 12 regular wine bottles.

Sangria

A tart punch made from red wine along with orange, lemon and apricot juice with added sugar.  Less formally made from red or white wine with various fruits added, sometimes with the addition of a sparkling wine or soft drink as well, always served chilled or on the rocks.

Sherry

A fortified wine that has been subjected to controlled oxidation to produce a distinctive flavor, usually from Spain.

Sommelier

A wine expert who often works in restaurants to assist guests in choosing excellent food and wine pairings.

.

Sparkling wine

Effervescent wine containing significant levels of carbon dioxide.

Spätlese

German for "late harvest". A Prädikat in Germany and Austria.

Split

A wine bottle that holds approximately 6 oz (175-187 mL) or one-fourth the equivalent of a typical 750 mL bottle; a single-serving.

Spumante

Italian for "sparkling".

Super Tuscans

A style of Italian wine that became popular in Tuscany in the late 20th century where premium quality wines were produced outside of DOC regulations and sold for high prices with the low level vino da tavola designation.

T

Table wine

Generally any wine that is not sparkling or fortified. In the US these wines must also be between 7% and 14% alcohol by volume. The term table wine is also used to describe a wine that is considered a good, everyday drinker.

Trocken

German for "dry".

U

Ullage

The space between the wine and the top of a wine bottle. As a wine ages, the space of ullage will increase as the wine gradually evaporates and seeps through the cork. The winemaking term of "ullage" refers to the practice of topping off a barrel with extra wine to prevent oxidation.

V

Varietal

Wines made from a single grape variety.

Vermouth

An aromatized wine that is made with wormwood and potentially other ingredients, usually herbal.  Often a secondary ingredient in gin and vodka martinis. 

Vertical and horizontal wine tasting

In a vertical tasting, different vintages of the same wine type from the same winery are tasted. This emphasizes differences between various vintages. In a horizontal tasting, the wines are all from the same vintage but are from different wineries. Keeping wine variety or type and wine region the same helps emphasize differences in winery styles.

Vieilles vignes

Literally "old vines" in French, sometimes written as an acronym V.V. It is worth noting there is no official or legal definition of "Vieilles vignes" in any of the wine regions of France; it is not a regulated term. Thus, "Vieilles vignes" can be added to a label by wine makers as they see fit.

Vin

French for wine.

Vino

Italian for wine

Vinho

Portuguese for wine.

Vintage

Vintage is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product. A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year.

W

Wine label

The descriptive sticker or signage adhered to the side of a wine bottle.

Wine tasting

The sensory evaluation of wine, encompassing more than taste, but also mouthfeel, aroma, and colour.