Vintage
Vintage
The term “vintage” refers to the year in which the grapes of a particular wine were harvested. A wine’s vintage reflects the unique weather and growing conditions of that season, heavily influencing the flavor, quality and character of the wine. A vintage wine is typically made from a single year’s harvest, while a non vintage wine is a blend of grapes from multiple years, designed to maintain a consistent taste and style.
See Also
Microclimate
Microclimate refers to the unique, localized temperature, humidity, sunlight and wind within a specific area of a vineyard different from the surrounding region. A microclimate allows for distinct and complex flavor profiles within a single vineyard.
Old World
The term "Old World' refers to wines produced in traditional European regions, primarily France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany, with winemaking traditions that span centuries, often regulated and family led.
Terroir
Terroir is a French term used to describe the complete environmental, geographical and human factors affecting a wine grape's growth. It includes farming practices, soil, climate and topography, often described as a "sense of place".
Domaine
"Domaine" refers to a French wine estate, particularly in Burgundy, that owns its own vineyards and makes wines from its own grapes.
Magnum
A magnum is a large wine bottle that holds 1.5 liters, double the volume of a standard 750ml bottle.
Oenophile
An oenophile is a passionate lover of wine, someone who appreciates, studies and often collects wines based on their region, production methods and varietal. Beyond wine drinking, they are interested in the stories behind the labels, often possessing refined tasting skills, able to identify subtle tasting notes. Oenophiles may be wine professional like sommeliers or wine merchants, or passionate hobbyists who frequently attend wine tastings and join wine clubs.
Climate
Climate refers to the long term weather patterns, including temperature, sunlight, wind and rainfall of a particular region which directly influence grape growth and decides the wine's style.
Sommelier
A sommelier is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine dining establishments, who specializes in all aspects of wine service, food pairing and cellar management.