Wine vocabulary: 10 words you will often hear (and their meanings)

The world of wine has its own language. Between “tannic,” “mineral,” and “rich,” it's easy to feel lost if you're not familiar with it. But don't panic: these words aren't just for sommeliers! They simply describe what you experience in your mouth, nose, and eyes.

Here are 10 key terms you'll often hear during wine tastings... and their true meanings (with a few concrete examples from our estate's vintages).

   1. Fruity

Describes a wine whose aroma is reminiscent of fruit (strawberry, cherry, peach, citrus, etc.). The fruitiness can be fresh and crisp (in a young wine) or more candied and ripe (in a mature wine).

Example: our IGP Vaucluse red offers an immediate, very indulgent fruitiness, with notes of black cherry and raspberry.

   2. Tannic

Tannins are natural compounds found in the skin, seeds, and stems of red grapes. They give wine a sensation of astringency (a slightly dry or rough mouthfeel). A very tannic wine is often young, powerful, and suited for aging.

Over time, the tannins soften.

Example: Our Le Pas de L'Aube cuvée develops a beautiful tannic structure, intensified by its time in oak barrels.

   3. Mineral

Used to describe a sensation of freshness and tension, often associated with notes of chalk, flint, and wet stone.

It is not a “rocky” taste, but a lively, mouth-watering sensation.

This profile is often found in white wines from limestone or schist soils.

   4. Gourmand

A term widely used to describe a pleasant, accessible wine with sweet or fruity aromas. A gourmand wine makes you want to come back for more! It is often round, supple, and easy to drink.

   5. Full-bodied

A full-bodied wine fills the mouth with volume and substance. It is also described as “generous” or “opulent.”

Not to be confused with a heavy wine: full-bodied wines can still be elegant.

Example: a well-aged red Beaumes de Venise can be full-bodied, with a broad, velvety mouthfeel.

   6. Lively

The opposite of a dull or flat wine. A lively wine has good acidity, which gives it pep and freshness and prolongs the aromas on the palate.

   7. Round

A round wine is smooth to the touch, with no rough edges. It has few or no angles (mellow tannins, moderate acidity), which makes it very pleasant.

A red wine from the Vaucluse IGP, with low tannins, can be described as round, perfect for an aperitif or a light meal.

    8. Balanced

A wine is balanced when no single element dominates: neither alcohol, acidity, nor tannins. This is often a sign of quality and harmony.

   9. Long finish

The length of a wine is measured by how long its aromas linger after swallowing (or spitting out) a sip. This is sometimes measured in “caudalies”: one second = one caudalie.

A well-made Muscat de Beaumes de Venise can linger on the palate for 8 to 10 seconds with a lovely finish of candied fruit.

   10. Evolved

Refers to a wine that has aged and whose aromas have evolved towards notes of leather, undergrowth, spices, and dried fruit. An evolved wine is not “past its prime”: it is simply in another phase of its expression.

AOC Beaumes de Venise wines develop a beautiful complexity after 7-8 years, with notes of dried fig and humus.

Wine vocabulary may seem a little technical at first, but it helps you better understand what you are tasting... and choose your bottles more wisely!

See you soon at Domaine des Garances!