AOC

An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated and legally defined wine grape growing region in the United States which is identifiable by its geography, soil and climate. A wine labeled with an AVA must use at least 85% grapes grown in the region.

"Cru" is a French term meaning "growth", referring to a superior, high quality growing site, vineyard, or village.

DOC means Denominazione di Origine Controllata, an Italian wine quality classification system that guarantees that the wine was produced in a specific region using authorized grape varieties and methods.

Bordeaux is an iconic wine region in southwestern France, renowned for producing red wine blends of the same name from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and other grapes.

Champagne is a sparkling wine made from a combination of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay and is produced exclusively in Champagne, France. It is a protected designation crafted under strict regulations guiding grape variety, traditional fermentation and aging.

A "hot" wine is a wine with unbalanced, excessively high alcohol (>14.5% ABV) that creates a burning sensation in the throat and mouth.

A blend is the combination of two or more different grape varieties, vineyard parcels, fermented wines or vintages to create a more balanced, complex and consistent wine.

ABV means alcohol by volume, referring to the percentage of alcohol in a wine, typically ranging from 11% to 15% for table wines.