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
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".
Jeroboam
A Jeroboam is a large format wine bottle that holds either 3 liters (4 standard 750 ml bottles) in Champagne and Burgundy, or 4.5 liters (6 standard bottles) in Bordeaux.
Earthy
"Earthy" in wine refers to savory aromas and flavors similar to soil, forest floor, dried leaves, wet rocks, mushrooms, or truffles. Some common grapes that display earthiness in their wines are Burgundy Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Tempranillo.
Magnum
A magnum is a large wine bottle that holds 1.5 liters, double the volume of a standard 750ml bottle.
Domaine
"Domaine" refers to a French wine estate, particularly in Burgundy, that owns its own vineyards and makes wines from its own grapes.
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.
GSM
GSM stands for a popular red wine blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, originating the Rhône Valley in France.