Lexicon: St. Chinian to Tuscany
S
St-Chinian
A region of the Languedoc in France.
St-Emilion
An area in Bordeaux, France, known for its blended red wines made with
Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
St-Estephe
A northern part of the Haut-Médoc in Bordeaux, France, that produces wines
considered solid work-a-day wines.
Sancerre
A village in the Loire, in France, known for deliciously dry acidic white wines
made from Sauvignon Blanc. Among my favorite white wines. Sancerre-ly.
Sangiovese
A red grape from Tuscany, Italy, used to make Chianti, It’s also a varietal there
and in California. I love hearty, dry Califiornia sangioveses.
Sauterne
A French dessert wine made in Bordeaux from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and
Semillon grapes harvested late and usually affected by the "noble rot." Gives
me a headache, but that's just me.
Sauvignon Blanc
A noble white grape from the Loire and Bordeaux in France, but also planted
all over. Light and refreshing, "grassy" is one of the chief descriptors. My
favorite white varietal.
Savennières
A small region in the Loire, France, known for making high quality white wines
from the Chenin Blanc grape.
Scheurebe
A German white grape that's a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner cross that
make slightly sweet, raisiny wines.
Sémillon
A white grape from Bordeaux, in France, often blended with Sauvignon Blanc. It
is also grown in the U.S, and Australia as a varietal in the U.S. and Australia.
Seyval Blanc
French-hybrid grape often used to make white wines in the Eastern U.S. that
makes a dry, crisp white wine, often aged in oak.
Shiraz
Australian and South African for "Syrah."
Short
Describes a wine whose finish or aftertaste doesn't last very long. Antonym of
"long" or "lingering."
Smoky
A smoke-like quality often attributed to aging in charred oak barrels.
Smooth
A textural descriptor that is as favorable as it sounds.
Soft
A wine that is low in acid wine, neither tart nor sour, is said to be "soft." Good
as long as it doesn’t go too far.
Semmolier
The chief wine steward in a restaurant. A good semmolier listens to what you
want and makes recommendations based on your menu choices. A bad
semmolier treats you like dirt. It's always a roll of the dice.
Spumante
Italian for sparkling wine.
Structure
A term that describes a wine's sense of body, usually dependent on its acidity,
alcohol level and tannins.
Subtle
A term meaning "complex and balanced." Not to be confused with "fair and
balanced," which is what Fox News is not.
Sylvaner
A German white grape, usually used for blending but gaining traction as a
varietal.
Syrah
A red grape from the Rhone region of France. It's blended in Chateauneuf-du-
Pape and used as a varietal Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, and others. It is now
grown all over and is very popular. It's characterized by its tannic, floral, peppery
qualities. It's called Shiraz in Australia and South Africa.
T
Table Wine
In the U.S.: A legal definition for a wine that differentiates standard wine from
high alcohol, or fortified wine.
In the European Union: Designates the low quality wine, one that qualifies for
neither an appellation nor even a regional designation. It's little unfair, I think,
because some table wines are quite hearty and go well with food..
Tanic
A descriptor for a wine in which tannic acid (or tannin) is palpable. In young but
age-worthy red wines, tannin give a sourness which "resolves" into the
complex elements of "bottle bouquet" when the wine is cellared under
appropriate temperature conditions (55 to 60 F).
Tempranillo
A noble Spanish red grape. Hearty red wines made from Tempranillo, such as
Rioja, are characterized by black fruit and spicy oak.
Terroir
A French term that describes the aromas and flavors of wine from grapes
grown in a given region, incorporating the contributions of both soil and climate.
Thin
A negative descriptor meaning "too loght-bodied."
Tobacco
An aroma common in some Bordeaux and California Cabernet. More like
cigars or pipe tobacco that cigarettes. I mean, really.
Tocai Friulano
A white grape grown in the Northeast of Italy that produces an aromatic, floral
wine. It is not related to Tokay.
Tocaj
A Hungarian dessert wine that relies on the "noble rot" (botrytis) for its
sweetness.
Torrentés
A White grape from the Galicia region of Spain that is capable of producing
aromatic white wines. Every time I here the place-name Galicia I think of the
film "Gladiator."
Trebbiano
A much-grown Italian white grape, that produces a dry white wine.
Tree bark
An "earthy" quality, often positive in balance. Lick an oak tree and you'll get the
idea.
Tropical fruit
A flavor or aroma description evocative of fruits like pineapple, commonly found
in California Chardonnays.
Truffles
Mushroom flavor or aromas (not chocolate).
Tuscany
A wine region in Central Italy near Florence, whence comes Chianti, Brunello
and Vino Nobile.
St-Chinian
A region of the Languedoc in France.
St-Emilion
An area in Bordeaux, France, known for its blended red wines made with
Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
St-Estephe
A northern part of the Haut-Médoc in Bordeaux, France, that produces wines
considered solid work-a-day wines.
Sancerre
A village in the Loire, in France, known for deliciously dry acidic white wines
made from Sauvignon Blanc. Among my favorite white wines. Sancerre-ly.
Sangiovese
A red grape from Tuscany, Italy, used to make Chianti, It’s also a varietal there
and in California. I love hearty, dry Califiornia sangioveses.
Sauterne
A French dessert wine made in Bordeaux from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and
Semillon grapes harvested late and usually affected by the "noble rot." Gives
me a headache, but that's just me.
Sauvignon Blanc
A noble white grape from the Loire and Bordeaux in France, but also planted
all over. Light and refreshing, "grassy" is one of the chief descriptors. My
favorite white varietal.
Savennières
A small region in the Loire, France, known for making high quality white wines
from the Chenin Blanc grape.
Scheurebe
A German white grape that's a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner cross that
make slightly sweet, raisiny wines.
Sémillon
A white grape from Bordeaux, in France, often blended with Sauvignon Blanc. It
is also grown in the U.S, and Australia as a varietal in the U.S. and Australia.
Seyval Blanc
French-hybrid grape often used to make white wines in the Eastern U.S. that
makes a dry, crisp white wine, often aged in oak.
Shiraz
Australian and South African for "Syrah."
Short
Describes a wine whose finish or aftertaste doesn't last very long. Antonym of
"long" or "lingering."
Smoky
A smoke-like quality often attributed to aging in charred oak barrels.
Smooth
A textural descriptor that is as favorable as it sounds.
Soft
A wine that is low in acid wine, neither tart nor sour, is said to be "soft." Good
as long as it doesn’t go too far.
Semmolier
The chief wine steward in a restaurant. A good semmolier listens to what you
want and makes recommendations based on your menu choices. A bad
semmolier treats you like dirt. It's always a roll of the dice.
Spumante
Italian for sparkling wine.
Structure
A term that describes a wine's sense of body, usually dependent on its acidity,
alcohol level and tannins.
Subtle
A term meaning "complex and balanced." Not to be confused with "fair and
balanced," which is what Fox News is not.
Sylvaner
A German white grape, usually used for blending but gaining traction as a
varietal.
Syrah
A red grape from the Rhone region of France. It's blended in Chateauneuf-du-
Pape and used as a varietal Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, and others. It is now
grown all over and is very popular. It's characterized by its tannic, floral, peppery
qualities. It's called Shiraz in Australia and South Africa.
T
Table Wine
In the U.S.: A legal definition for a wine that differentiates standard wine from
high alcohol, or fortified wine.
In the European Union: Designates the low quality wine, one that qualifies for
neither an appellation nor even a regional designation. It's little unfair, I think,
because some table wines are quite hearty and go well with food..
Tanic
A descriptor for a wine in which tannic acid (or tannin) is palpable. In young but
age-worthy red wines, tannin give a sourness which "resolves" into the
complex elements of "bottle bouquet" when the wine is cellared under
appropriate temperature conditions (55 to 60 F).
Tempranillo
A noble Spanish red grape. Hearty red wines made from Tempranillo, such as
Rioja, are characterized by black fruit and spicy oak.
Terroir
A French term that describes the aromas and flavors of wine from grapes
grown in a given region, incorporating the contributions of both soil and climate.
Thin
A negative descriptor meaning "too loght-bodied."
Tobacco
An aroma common in some Bordeaux and California Cabernet. More like
cigars or pipe tobacco that cigarettes. I mean, really.
Tocai Friulano
A white grape grown in the Northeast of Italy that produces an aromatic, floral
wine. It is not related to Tokay.
Tocaj
A Hungarian dessert wine that relies on the "noble rot" (botrytis) for its
sweetness.
Torrentés
A White grape from the Galicia region of Spain that is capable of producing
aromatic white wines. Every time I here the place-name Galicia I think of the
film "Gladiator."
Trebbiano
A much-grown Italian white grape, that produces a dry white wine.
Tree bark
An "earthy" quality, often positive in balance. Lick an oak tree and you'll get the
idea.
Tropical fruit
A flavor or aroma description evocative of fruits like pineapple, commonly found
in California Chardonnays.
Truffles
Mushroom flavor or aromas (not chocolate).
Tuscany
A wine region in Central Italy near Florence, whence comes Chianti, Brunello
and Vino Nobile.
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