If you’re in the habit of reading wine labels, you may be convinced that there are more terms used to classify and describe wine than there are types of wine. But despite the fact that all these terms can be a bit confusing, it doesn’t take a degree in wine studies to make sense of what you’re reading. Knowing the meaning of a few important words can put you well on your way to deciphering almost any label.
Cuvee: vat.
Cuvee is French for a particular wine blend, and comes from the word Cuve, which is the name for the vat in which the blend is created.
Cru: ranked.
Cru, as in the terms Grand Cru or Cru Beaujolais, generally indicates a wine that has been ranked or graded in some way.
Varietal: grape.
A varietal wine is named for the main grape used to make it, like chardonnay. Most wines from North America and the southern hemisphere use the varietal names.
Regional: place
A regional wine, on the other hand, is named for the place where the grapes are grown, like Chianti and Chablis. Most European wines are named in this way.
Your own terms.
More important than these wine terms, says Immer, is knowing your own terms: what tastes good to you and what kinds of wine you enjoy drinking.
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