Wine Lingo For Beginners Part 2

 

Welcome back to part 2 of Wine Lingo for Beginners!

Part 1 received many reviews and to date, it is one of our most popular posts. I initially planned for three parts to cover some basic language. However, I will extend it to 5 and monitor what our readers are curious about and let that help determine the content to cover. If you have terms you are curious about, feel free to email them to us. 

Here are your new words:

Blanc de Blanc: means "white from whites".  This is champagne made entirely from Chardonnay grapes.

Blend: (ref. wine); Wine made from more than one grape variety rather than a single varietal. For example, in the Pomerol AOP you have Merlot and Cabernet Franc- based blends. 

Cremant: This term is typically reserved for French sparkling wines grown outside of the Champagne region of France, and are produced utilizing the Methode Champenoise.

Mulled wine: Also known as "spiced wine". Mulled wines are heated with sugar and spices and even brandy. There are different versions that exist.

Oenophile: (definition taken from Merriam- Webster) A lover or connoisseur of wine. Whereas, oenophilia simply refers to the enjoyment of wine. 

Aperitif:  Derived from the Latin word aperire, meaning to open; aperitifs are drinks served before a meal to open the digestive system and stimulate appetite; examples are dry sparkling wine and Alsace whites

Terroir:  A French term that means the total environment of a viticultural site. Its main emphasis is on the soil.  It is believed (though debated), the terroir influences the grapes and is expressed in a wine's aromatics as well as flavor. (*Note: This is a topic we will discuss in the near future.)

If you have not read Part 1, you can do so here .