Glossary
The words of wine, in
plain words.
Every term used across the guides, defined in a sentence or two. Search, browse by letter, or filter by where the word belongs. Definitions are grounded in sources including the OIV viticulture terminology and EU wine labelling regulation.
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T Tasting
Tannin
Compounds from grape skins, seeds and oak that give a drying grip in the mouth.
"The tannin in this red grips the gums."
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Common wine terms
Definitions people search for most.
These are the terms that come up most often in questions. Each answer links to the full glossary entry and, where applicable, to the official source.
What is "terroir"?
Terroir is the complete natural environment in which a wine is made — soil, topography, climate and microclimate. The term is French and has no exact English equivalent. It underpins the concept of appellation systems worldwide. See the OIV viticulture terminology for a formal definition, and the glossary entry for terroir.
What does "dry" mean on a wine label?
In wine, "dry" means that most or all of the grape sugar has been converted to alcohol during fermentation, leaving little residual sweetness. The EU defines a dry still wine as containing no more than 4 g/L residual sugar (or up to 9 g/L if the acidity is within 2 g/L of the sugar level). See EU Regulation 2019/33.
What is the difference between "Brut" and "Extra Dry" in sparkling wine?
"Extra Dry" (12–17 g/L residual sugar) is actually slightly sweeter than "Brut" (up to 12 g/L). This counterintuitive naming is historical. The full EU sweetness scale runs from Brut Nature (0–3 g/L) to Doux (50+ g/L). See the Sparkling sweetness terms guide and the EU labelling regulation.
What does "appellation" mean?
An appellation (or AOC/DOC/DO depending on country) is a legally defined geographic area whose wine must meet specific production rules. In France these are governed by the INAO; in Italy by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole. See the Appellations explained guide.
What is tannin?
Tannin is a polyphenol found mainly in red wine grape skins, seeds and oak barrels. It gives wine a drying, gripping sensation on the gums. Tannin acts as a natural preservative, which is why tannic red wines (like Barolo or Bordeaux) can age for decades. The OIV has published research on tannin extraction and measurement.
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