6 terms you need to know about wine

If you're interested in the world of wine, you'll come across a number of expressions used in the winemaking industry, some of them highly technical, which deserve a few brief explanations. Let's start with the 6 most common terms.

Terroir

Vines can thrive in almost any soil, but they don't necessarily make good wine. This is precisely where the notion of terroir comes in.

A terroir corresponds to a type of soil, a type of climate in a specific geographical area, the slope of the soil, the way in which the vines are tended, and so on. Each terroir is therefore unique and reveals a different personality. In France, each terroir corresponds to a specific appellation.

The grape variety

A grape variety is like a Williams pear.

The best known are Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Chardonnay. It's important to remember that a grape variety will only produce a good wine if it's used in the right terroir.Harmony between grape variety and terroir is therefore essential to produce great wines.

The harvest

This is the most important period for winegrowers, when the ripe grapes are picked to begin the wine-making process. Thedate of the harvest can have a considerable impact on the final result.

As grapes ripen, their sugar content increases and their acidity decreases. To achieve the right balance, the winemaker must correctly assess the ripeness of his grapes.

Ageing

Whether in vats, barrels or tuns, ageing is a matter of choice for the winemaker, but also a question of specifications.

Generally speaking, stainless steel or cement vats produce wines that are more fruity and drinkable younger. Oak barrels, on the other hand, give structure and complexity to the wines.

Cuvée

This term refers to a wine made from a specific plot of land. A winegrower often produces several cuvées, each with a different name.

Decanting

This is a simple operation that involves pouring a wine into a carafe to remove the sediment formed over time, or to oxygenate young wines.