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Maceration
The process of soaking the skins of red grapes in their juice to
dissolve the skin's color, tannin and other substances into the
juice.
Macroclimate
Average, overall weather conditions in a wine-growing region, such
as Napa Valley, California, or Champagne, France.
Malbec
A red grape varietal known as L'Etranger in France, where it is
generally used as a blending grape. In Argentina and California,
it is sometimes made as a varietal wine. Malbec grapes are very
large for wine grapes, and are delicious as table grapes.
Malic acid
The organic acid found in apples, grapes and wine. Malic acid is
converted to lactic acid during malolactic fermentation.
Malolactic fermentation
A bacterial fermentation that converts harsh malic acid into softer
lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Performed on all red wines to increase
stability, and performed on some white wines to increase complexity
and add the buttery component diacetyl.
Manzanilla
A very light, refreshing sherry from San Lucar de Barrameda in Spain,
named for its apple-like characteristic.
Marriage
In wine, the integration of the components of blended grapes or
wines or of additions to wine, such as dosage or sulfur dioxide,
to form a more pleasing combination.
Maturation
The aging period at the winery during which the wine evolves to
a state of readiness for bottling. Also the ongoing development
of fine wines during a period of bottle aging.
Mature
A wine that has reached its optimum point during aging, and exhibits
a pleasing combination of aromas, flavors and bouquet.
Medium-dry
A term to indicate slight sweetness in wines that are not quite
dry.
Medium sweet
A term to indicate the perceived level of sweetness in wines that
are not fully sweet.
Merlot
Fine red wine grape widely planted in Bordeaux and California. Often
blended with Cabernet Sauvignon.
Mesoclimate
The unique climate of a subsection of a wine region.
Methode Champenoise
The bottle-fermentation method of making Champagne and other sparkling
wines that are released for sale in the same bottle in which the
secondary fermentation took place.
Microclimate
The climate in and around the grapevine's canopy.
Minerally
Exhibiting aromas or flavors that suggest minerals.
Moldy
Grapes, containers or corks that have developed mold transmit this
"off" odor to the wine they contact.
Must
The juice and pulp produced by crushing or pressing grapes. Used
until the end of fermentation, when it is then called wine.
Neutral
A wine lacking distinctive or recognizable flavor and/or odor. A
common descriptor of ordinary blended wines.
New oak
A term used to indicate barrels that are brand new.
Noble rot
See Botrytis cinerea
Nutty
Exhibiting aromas or flavors that suggest nuts, desirable in dessert
or aperitif wines such as sherry.
Oaky
Toasty, smoky or vanilla smells and flavors contributed by the oak
during barrel aging.
Odors
Sensations caused by the volatile components of wines, including
aroma, bouquet and "off" odors.
Off-dry
Very slightly sweet.
Off flavors
Undesirable odors perceived by the mouth.
Off odors
Undesirable odors perceived by the nose from a variety of possible
sources.
Old vines
An unregulated term for grape vines whose fruit quality is presumably
good because the vines are old and produce little crop.
Over-aged
A general breakdown of wine kept too long in cooperage or bottle;
oxidized.
Oxidation
The changes in wine caused by exposure to air.
Oxidized
Wine changed by contact with air, usually producing undesirable
color and flavors; over-aged.
Palate
A term used as a synonym for "mouth," or to refer to the
characteristics of a wine that manifest in the taster's mouth.
Petrol
Having aromas or flavors that suggest fuel.
pH
The measure of acid strength; the lower the pH, the higher the acid
strength.
Phylloxera
A parasite louse that feeds on the roots of vitis vinifera grape
vines, resulting in the vines' death.
Pinot Noir
A red wine grape that is the basis of the famous wines of Burgundy,
France. Also widely planted in California's cooler growing regions
and Oregon and Washington.
Plummy
Showing aromas or flavors that suggest ripe plums.
Plush
A textural descriptor for wines that feel luxurious in the mouth.
Polyphenols
A complex group of organic chemicals that includes wine's tannins.
Pomace
The solid residue left after pressing, made up of skins and seeds.
Port
A fortified dessert wine made in several styles. Authentic port
is from the Douro River Valley of Portugal.
Potassium bitartrate
The crystals that sometimes precipitate in bottled wine, but which
are normally removed by cold-stabilization. Made of the same compounds
as Cream of Tartar.
Powerful
A descriptor that indicates an impression of strength and intensity.
Premiere
In methode Champenoise, refers to the first batch or press juices
collected after the free-run juice.
Press
To exert pressure on grapes or must to extract their juices; also
the mechanical device used to do this.
Press juice
The juice obtained by pressing, as opposed to free-run juice.
Pretty
A descriptor indicating a wine that is attractive for its delicacy
and finesse.
Primary aromas
Fresh aromas in wine that derive from the varietal used to make
the wine.
Prise de Mousse
A French term for the second fermentation of methode Champenoise,
executed in the bottles in which the wine is sold. Literally, "catch
the foam."
Puckery
The tactile sensation of highly tannic wines; astringent.
Pulp
The flesh of the grape (or other fruit).
Pump over
To circulate fermenting juice of red wines from the bottom of the
tank over the skin cap that forms during fermentation to ensure
optimal extraction and prevent bacterial spoilage.
Punch down
To push the skin cap down into the fermenting juice to ensure optimal
extraction and prevent bacterial spoilage.
Puncheons
Larger oak barrels, usually 135 gallons.
Punt
The indentation in the bottom of some wine bottles.
Quality
The degree of excellence of a wine, often judged by complexity,
harmony and intensity.
Racking
Pumping wine from one container to another to clarify it by leaving
the sediment behind.
Refractometer
An instrument to estimate the sugar content of grape juice by measuring
the bending of light passing through it.
Region
A geographical area less specific than a district, but more specific
than a country.
Reserva
A Spanish red wine from Rioja that is aged at least 1 year in barrel
and 2 years in bottle before release.
Reserve wine
In methode Champenoise, wine that is held to be blended into the
cuvees of future vintages.
Residual sugar
Sugar remaining in the wine after fermentation, often referred to
by winemakers as "RS".
Rich
A descriptor of wines that offer an abundance of flavor, texture
or other sensory perceptions.
Riddling
In methode Champenoise, turning bottles of sparkling wine to collect
the sediment on the closure for removal during disgorging.
Round
A descriptor for wines that seem neither flat nor angular, related
to the wine's structure.
Rough
The astringent sensation in the mouth.
Ruby
A general style of red port wines that encompasses character ports,
vintage port, young ruby ports, and others. All are rather sweet.
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