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A descriptor for wines that have become tasteless, most often due to storage for excessive periods of time in a large vessel.

Descriptor of wine that is thin and a bit astringent, a complement for some wine styles.

A descriptor of wines that are named after wine producing districts.

Term used by professional wine tasters when referring to the bouquet or aroma of a wine. "Bouquet" is a term used to describe various fragrances evident from the processing and/or ageing of wine.

Pronounced cab-air-Nay So-veen-yawn. A grape varietal, used in the production of robust red wines and white wines with blush hues, originating in the Bordeaux region of France.

The tasting of wine with, typically, no knowledge of the identity of the wine. At times, the tasters will know the type but not the winery they originate from.

In reference to wine making, "skin" is the outer layer of the grape that contains the pigments, flavonoids, and tannins essential to the production of red wine.

Descriptor of wine that exhibits a mothball or rubbery aroma. Typically this aroma is the consequence of poor winemaking, the use of excessive sulfur dioxide.

A descriptor of wine. See “sharp” and “acidic”.

Descriptor of wine that is flavorful and full bodied, they are said to have “stuffing”.

In reference to wine making, the "seed" is the segment of a grape that contains tannins.

In reference to wine making, "pulp" refers to the flesh of the grape. The pulp contains a majority of the water, sugar, and acid that forms the grape juice extracted from the grapes.

Descriptor of wine that is nearly a synonym for “fat”, though considered a step below when describing fullness in the mouth.

Term used to describe a wine with a heavy, prune flavor or that is overripe.

The term used to describe the foam that forms after a sparkling wine or champagne has been poured out of the bottle.

Pronounced K'yahn-tee. A regional red wine produced in the appelation of Chianti in the Tuscany region of Italy.

Any type of utensil or piece of equipment that is used to keep wine chilled. Depending on function, wine coolers may be a simple as a table top containers to cool wine as well as hand held totes to carry chilled wine or as elaborate as refrigerated units that hold many bottles of wine that can be maintained at specific temperatures.

An unpleasant "nose" that presents itself when a bottle of wine is initially opened. The offensive odor is an indication that the wine is unfit for consumption.

An unpleasant "nose" that presents itself when a bottle of wine is opened. The odor is caused by metal contamination during the ageing or wine making process.

Pronounced pee-noe-blahn. A grape varietal, used in the production of white wine, originating in the Alsace region of France.