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Wine Vocabulary

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Instructions: Explore the language of wine tasting and viticulture with this vocabulary quiz

  1. 1.

    In wine tasting, what does 'bouquet' refer to?

    A
    The vineyard where grapes were grown
    B
    The color of the wine
    C
    The shape of the bottle
    D
    The complex aromas that develop as wine ages
  2. 2.

    What does 'tannin' refer to in wine?

    A
    The sugar content
    B
    The alcohol percentage
    C
    A naturally occurring compound that creates a dry, puckering sensation in the mouth
    D
    A type of grape variety
  3. 3.

    In wine terminology, what does 'terroir' mean?

    A
    A type of wine barrel
    B
    The complete natural environment in which a wine is produced, including soil, climate, and terrain
    C
    A French wine region
    D
    A terrible vintage
  4. 4.

    What does 'dry' mean when describing a wine?

    A
    The wine is too old
    B
    The wine needs to be aerated
    C
    The wine contains little or no residual sugar
    D
    The wine has gone bad
  5. 5.

    What is 'decanting' in wine service?

    A
    Testing the wine for quality
    B
    Pouring wine from the bottle into another vessel to separate sediment and aerate it
    C
    Removing the cork
    D
    Cooling the wine
  6. 6.

    In wine terms, what does 'vintage' refer to?

    A
    An old wine cellar
    B
    A type of wine glass
    C
    The year in which the grapes were harvested
    D
    An expensive wine
  7. 7.

    What does 'full-bodied' mean when describing wine?

    A
    The wine is very dark in color
    B
    The wine has a rich, heavy, and complex feel in the mouth
    C
    The wine contains no bubbles
    D
    The bottle is completely full
  8. 8.

    What is a 'sommelier'?

    A
    A grape harvester
    B
    A trained wine professional who specializes in wine service
    C
    A winemaker
    D
    A wine bottle manufacturer
  9. 9.

    In wine vocabulary, what does 'brut' mean on a champagne label?

    A
    Sparkling
    B
    Very dry, with little added sugar
    C
    Sweet
    D
    Aged for a long time
  10. 10.

    What does 'nose' refer to in wine tasting?

    A
    The sommelier's expertise
    B
    The overall smell or aroma of a wine
    C
    The shape of the bottle neck
    D
    The pointed end of a cork
  11. 11.

    What is a 'varietal' wine?

    A
    A blended wine
    B
    A wine with variable quality
    C
    A wine named after the dominant grape variety used to make it
    D
    A wine from various regions
  12. 12.

    In wine terms, what does 'legs' or 'tears' refer to?

    A
    The roots of the grapevine
    B
    Scratches on the bottle
    C
    Sediment at the bottom
    D
    The streaks of wine that run down the inside of a glass after swirling
  13. 13.

    What does 'corked' mean when describing a wine?

    A
    The wine is contaminated by a faulty cork, giving it a musty taste
    B
    The cork was difficult to remove
    C
    The wine has a cork closure
    D
    The wine is properly sealed
  14. 14.

    What is 'malolactic fermentation' in winemaking?

    A
    The primary fermentation of grape juice
    B
    Adding sugar to the wine
    C
    A secondary fermentation that converts sharp malic acid into softer lactic acid
    D
    Filtering the wine before bottling
  15. 15.

    In wine vocabulary, what does 'finish' or 'aftertaste' refer to?

    A
    The final year of aging
    B
    The end of the winemaking process
    C
    The last sip in the bottle
    D
    The flavors and sensations that linger after swallowing the wine

Answer Key

Question 1
D. The complex aromas that develop as wine ages
Question 2
C. A naturally occurring compound that creates a dry, puckering sensation in the mouth
Question 3
B. The complete natural environment in which a wine is produced, including soil, climate, and terrain
Question 4
C. The wine contains little or no residual sugar
Question 5
B. Pouring wine from the bottle into another vessel to separate sediment and aerate it
Question 6
C. The year in which the grapes were harvested
Question 7
B. The wine has a rich, heavy, and complex feel in the mouth
Question 8
B. A trained wine professional who specializes in wine service
Question 9
B. Very dry, with little added sugar
Question 10
B. The overall smell or aroma of a wine
Question 11
C. A wine named after the dominant grape variety used to make it
Question 12
D. The streaks of wine that run down the inside of a glass after swirling
Question 13
A. The wine is contaminated by a faulty cork, giving it a musty taste
Question 14
C. A secondary fermentation that converts sharp malic acid into softer lactic acid
Question 15
D. The flavors and sensations that linger after swallowing the wine

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