Wine Vocabulary
What is the Vin Santo’s ‘Madre’?
The ‘Madre’ (“Mother” in Italian) is a thick deposit of wine-soaked lees and yeast cells left at the bottom of the Caratello (ancient barrels used to make Vin Santo in Tuscany) when racked…
Wine Vocabulary
More about Nebbiolo: Piemonte’s mythical grape variety
Nebbiolo is often regarded as Italy’s most esteemed red grape. It is also one of its oldest, with its first mention dating back to the 13th century…
Wine Vocabulary
What is the ‘Arrope’?
Arrope is a syrupt used in Spain to sweeten wine (add sugar), particularly Sherry, that is prepared by boiling down and so concentrating the unfermented grape juice.
Wine Vocabulary
What is the Aoûtement (of the vine)?
Aoûtement is a French term used to designate the ‘Cane Ripening’ (where the canes lignify) that can happen in the month of August (‘Août’ in French) in the Northern Hemisphere…
Wine Vocabulary
What is a ‘Naturwein’?
A ‘Naturwein’ is a German wine to which no sugar had been added for the purpose of enrichment of its alcohol strength…