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Table wine
The term table wine usually refers to a simple or low-quality
wine. Sometimes it refers to an unfortified wine in constrast to a
fortified wine such as Sherry.
Some of Italy's finest and priciest wines are or were classified as table wines.
Tannin
Tannins are a group of compounds found in grape
seeds,
skins, and stems. Theymay also be added by
aging
a wine in
oak
barrels, especially
small, new oak barrels. Tannins are the essential component of a red wine’s
structure, and are essential for successful aging during which they soften and
smooth. Overly predominant tannins may ruin a wine’s taste. Technically tannins
are called phenolic compounds.
Tartaric acid
Tartaric acid is a naturally occurring grape. It may crystallize when the
wine chills. These flavorless, tasteless crystals are usually removed to avoid
offending consumers.
Terroir
While terroir literally means "soil" in French, as used by wine
lovers, French or not, it refers to the entire winemaking environment. Some
translate it as somewhereness, the sum of local characteristics that make a
specific region that region. In some
parts of the world, the terroir may vary from one end of the
vineyard to the other.
Toasting
Toasting chars the insides of new or almost new
barrels over an open flame.
This process caramelizes the wood, adding vanillin and other
aromas and tastes to the wine.
Topping up
Topping up a
barrel or other container
means adding wine to replace losses via
evaporation. This process prevents
oxidation.
Topping up a glass means adding wine to keep it relatively full.
This process may speed consumption.
Click to access introductory wine glossary pages:
A B
C D
E F
G H
I J
K L
M N
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R S
T U
V W
Y Z