WINE TERMS

Common Wine Terms
Aroma - The actual scent of the fruit or flower of a wine.
Balance - No one element–sweetness, acidity, or tartness–prevails in a wine.
Bouquet - The rich fragrances that a wine gives off.  
Crisp - Acidity levels are in balance, resulting in a fresh taste.
Fruity - The specific aromas and flavors of the grapes are immediately evident.  
Full-Bodied - Wine with weighty, substantial flavor and a higher alcohol content.
Must - The thick stew of juice, skins, and other matter after the crushing of the grapes.  
Nose - The combination of aroma and bouquet.  
Oaky - The scent or flavor of wine aged in small oak barrels.  
Tannin - A bitter compound found in the seeds, stems, and skins of grapes.
Tart - Wine with a high acidity level.
How Wine is Made.
The wine-making process has remained relatively unchanged through the ages.
Red Wine - With red wine, so-called black grapes (which are actually purple), are carefully crushed so that the seeds remain whole, and are thus easily separated from the resulting juice. The crushed mass is then put in a vat, made of wood or stainless steel, and left to ferment. The wine is then fermented a second time, usually in a wooden cask, where the wine can remain anywhere from six months to five years. The color of red wine results from leaving the skins of the dark grapes to soak in their grape juice, also called "must," or "il mosto."
White Wine - White wine is made either completely from white grapes, or a mixture of black and white. The skins of the black grapes are removed so that the pigments do not affect the "must".
Blush Wine - Rosé - With blush wines, the skins of black grapes are left in the "must" just long enough for a pinkish cast to form.
Sparkling Wine - The fizz in red and white sparking wines, results from a secondary fermentation process that produces naturally forming carbon dioxide.
White wine is served in a narrow glass with a long stem, which keeps the heat from your hands away from the wine to preserve its chill. The shape of the glass also enhances the wine's delicate aroma and flavor.
How to choose Wine Glasses.
Red wine is served in a large, round glass with a shorter stem. The bowl-shaped glass heightens the wine's body and flavor. Wine connoisseurs often invest in glasses specifically made for different types of wine.