Appellation

An appellation is a geographical location used to easily identify and differentiate where wines are produced.

Chateau

A Chateau is a wine estate in France which includes both the winery in which wines are made and the vineyards which produce the grapes.

Claret

Claret is the term used to describe a red wine that is produced in Bordeaux.

Cru

A French word that translates to ‘Growth’. Generally used in reference to a wine of high quality.

Climat

Climat in wine-making refers to vineyard sites that have unique and specific environmental conditions such as soil and climate. It is a word more closely associated with wine production in the Burgundy region.

Domaine

A word used to describe a winery estate or vineyard, typically used in regions such as Burgundy.

First Growth

First Growth refers to the top five highest-ranking wines under the 1855 Classification of the Medoc; Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion, Chateau Latour.

Grand Cru

Grand Cru is a classification of the highest quality vineyards from a region. It’s a term predominantly used in Burgundy to define the region’s most exceptional wines.

OWC

Within the wine industry, OWC stands for ‘Original wooden casing’ and refers to the original wooden packaging that wine was shipped in from the place of production.

Parkerization

When a chateau purposefully tailors their wines to suit the tastes of acclaimed wine critic, Robert Parker Jr.

Second Wine

A second wine is a wine produced from a chateau which is not included in its main label, usually made from surplus grapes, saving the best quality grapes for the main production.

Super Second

Super second is the name given to wines of exceptional quality which are not classified as first growths. These are wines which can compete with first growths for quality and price. Super seconds are known as an ‘unofficial’ classification system, meaning there are no written rules for it.

Super Tuscan

The term Super Tuscan is the term used to describe Italian wines, produced in the region of Tuscany that are of extremely high quality. These wines are typically made using non-traditional making methods and grapes that are not indigenous to Italy. This unofficial classification is different from the typical Tuscan classification.

Tannins

A natural compound found in the skin and seeds of grapes that adds a slightly bitter note to the overall flavour profile of the wine after it has been produced.

Terroir

Terroir is the word used to describe the soil and climate of a grape-growing region.

Vinification

Vinification is the process of transforming and fermenting grapes into wine.

Vintage

Vintage is the year in which grapes were harvested or the year in which the bottles were produced.