| Acidity: |
The level of natural acids found in wine. The term also refers to the tartness or sourness in a wine. |
| Appellation: |
A recognized wine-growing region, such as California. Almaden wines are all produced from grapes grown in the California Appellation. |
| Aroma: |
The way a wine smells. Almaden Blush Chablis displays hints of fresh floral aromas. |
| Balance: |
The relationship between sugar, alcohol, acid and tannin in a wine. A “well-balanced” wine is when each of these components shares the same strength and no single component takes over the others. |
| Blend: |
More than one variety of grapes combined to make a wine. The name of a blend may be taken from its color or the wine region from which it originated, such as Chablis or Burgundy. |
| Blush
Wine: |
A wine with a pinkish hue that results from the contact the red grape skins have with the juice during crushing. Popular blush wines from Almaden include White Grenache Rose and White Zinfandel. |
| Body: |
A term describing the wine’s weight in your mouth. A wine’s body can range from light to full. |
| Bright: |
A wine that is appealing to the senses such as sight, taste and feel in the mouth. Almaden White Grenache is a bright wine. |
| Complex: |
A wine that displays an abundance of various aromas and flavors. Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon is an example of a complex wine. |
| Concentrated: |
A term that refers to the intensity of an aroma or a flavor in wine. Almaden Chardonnay contains concentrated flavors of apple and pear. |
| Crisp: |
A wine that is light-bodied, has a bit more acidity, and feels “clean” in the mouth. Almaden Mountain Rhine is a crisp wine. |
| Dry: |
When a wine has no residual (remaining) sugar in it after it ferments. Dry is the opposite of sweet. |
| Fermentation: |
The way grape juice becomes wine, as the natural fruit sugars transform into alcohol through the action of yeasts present in the grapes. |
| Finish: |
The way a wine feels in the mouth once it has been swallowed. |
| Fruity: |
A wine that contains flavors and aromas similar to fruits. Fruity characteristics can be found in Almaden Mountain Chablis and Mountain Burgundy. |
| Light
Wine: |
When a wine contains approximately 25% fewer calories and 35% less alcohol. Almaden makes several light wines, including Light Chablis and Light White Zinfandel. |
| New
World: |
Winemaking regions that lie outside Europe. All of Almaden’s wines are made from grapes grown in the New World. |
| Oak: |
A flavor found in many wines that resembles vanilla and butter. Oak flavors can be found in Almaden Merlot and Chardonnay. |
| Old
World: |
Winemaking regions within Europe. |
| Red
Wine: |
Wine made from fermented grapes with red skins. Some popular red wines are Almaden Mountain Burgundy and Merlot. |
| Residual
Sugar: |
The amount of sugar that remains in the wine once fermentation is complete. Dry wines such as Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon or Mountain Burgundy have little or no residual sugars. |
| Steel
Fermented: |
Many wines are fermented in steel tanks to bring out their fresh fruit flavors. |
| Sweetness: |
A description of wine referring to the taste of sugar, either resulting from the residual sugar or alcohol present in the wine. Almaden wines such as White Zinfandel and Chenin Blanc are known for their sweetness. |
| Table
Wine: |
A general term used to refer to a blend or specific varietal of wine containing 7-14% alcohol. |
| Tannin: |
A component of red wine that comes from the grape skins, stems and seeds. Wines such as Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot contain tannins. Tannins can impart a “tannic” characteristic (a distinct heavier texture and taste) to the wine. |
| Varietal
Wine: |
A specific type of wine, named after a grape variety such as Merlot or Chardonnay. According to U.S. law, varietal wines must consist of 75% of the named grape variety. |
| Vintage: |
The year in which the grapes in a wine (at least 95% of them) were harvested. Almaden wines are non-vintage dated. Almaden’s winemaking team selects the best quality grapes from each vintage and combines them to create the same great taste, year after year. |
| White
Wine: |
Wine made from fermented grapes with white skins such as Almaden Golden Chablis and Chenin Blanc. |
| Wine: |
An alcoholic beverage resulting from the fermentation by yeasts of the juice of the grape with appropriate processing and additions. |
| Yeasts: |
Very small organisms that play a crucial role in the winemaking process as they change natural sugars into alcohol. |
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