How to Read Tricky Wine Labels

Wine terms can sometimes be confusing to the inexperienced eye. Here are a few common terms explained so you can sound like a pro next time you are sipping wine.

Acidity: Every wine requires some acidity, it makes a wine feel fresh. The best wines have enough acid to balance the sweetness and flavours of the wine. Too much acidity makes the wine taste sharp.

Aroma: Aroma is used to describe the scent of a wine.

Finish: The finish is a sensation of flavours your mouth experiences long after you’ve swallowed and enjoyed that wine.

Residual Sugar: Residual Sugar, or RS, is the unfermented sugar that remains in a finished wine.

Brix: Is a scale used to measure the sugar content of unfermented grape juice.

Tannin: Tannins are extracted from the grape skins, seeds and stems. Mostly found in red wine and are described by that drying sensation in your mouth.

Terroir: A sense of place. Environmental factors like soil types, climate, topography and exposure – things unique to the unique location where the grapes are grown. These have an impact on the wine in your glass.

Hopefully this helps you read those wine labels better and understand the wine you are enjoying in your glass.