Ever been in a room with serious wine enthusiasts, and while they belted out wine terms you just nod and say you love the way the wine feels on your palate? Let’s face it, wine in itself is intimidating and complex to talk about. Wouldn’t it be great to have a few terms in your pocket the next time you’re out sipping wine?
Bid adieu to those awkward moments with our list of words. So, the next time you are out at a wine tasting event, a party or just brunching with friends, bring these terms up and you’re guaranteed to sound like a sommelier.
Acidity
A point that you can harp on is the acidity in sparkling wines. Referred to as the backbone of any wine, it primarily contributes to the aging process. Most wines get their acidic content naturally from the grapes for a crisper flavour. The sour taste is balanced out with sugar or when sweeter grapes are added to the blend. Here’s a swirling fact that you can share with your friends. Sparkling wines are sweeter because of their high acidity as compared to full-bodied red wines.
Aroma
We’re pretty sure you know that wine is supposed to be smelt first and then sipped on. Letting your wine breathe allows it to open up and reveal its flavours to enhance your experience. In Chandon Brut, you’ll smell a blossom of citrus flavours with hints of tropical fruits. Chandon Rosé will exude intense aromas of ripe cherries and red fruits.
Blend
One of the notable styles of winemaking is combining different grape varieties into a single bottle. You’d find the most common variety used is Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and specifically Chenin Blanc for Chandon Brut. Each grape brings something to the table, Chardonnay provides roundness, Pinot Noir gives the wine structure and aids in aging, Chenin Blanc delivers the crispness and freshness. Chandon Rosé on the other hand is a 100% blend of Shiraz.
Dry
Many people confuse dry with a flavourless aftertaste in your mouth. In wine terms, dry refers to the amount of residual sugar left in the wine after its fermentation process. You’ve come across terms like Dry, Extra, or Brut, on sparkling wine bottles. All these falls roughly in the middle on the sweetness scale. While describing Chandon Brut, you can talk about how the tropical fruits balance the slight sweetness to deliver a light textured wine.
While our list is short, these should get you out of some sticky situations. Remember the key is confidence, when speaking the sophisticated language of wine. Read a couple of interesting wine facts and you’re all set to mesmerise everyone the next time you’re hosting.