Glossary of Terms

The A to Z Guide to Tuscan Wine

Tuscany is a cornucopia of diverse wines. Chianti is the Heart & Soul of Tuscany’s wine country.
Chianti Classico has some of Italy’s best red wines.

Azienda agricola (AH ZYEHN DAH. AH GREE KOH LAH)
Wine Estate

Amàbile (AH MAH BEE LEH)
Sweet

Amaro (AH MAH ROH)
Bitter

Annata (AHN NAH TAH)
Vintage date

Barrique (BAHR REE KEH )
50- to 60- gallon oak barrel often used to age non-traditional wines

Bianco (BEE YAHN KOH)
White

Botte (BOHT TEH)
Traditional 500-gallon wood barrel for aging wine

Bottìglia / Bottiglierìa (BOHT TEE LYAH / BOHT TEE LYEH REE AH)
Bottle / Wine shop
 
Brunello di Montalcino (BROO NEHL LOH DEE MOHN TAHL CHEE NOH)
Full-bodied, complex red wine; intense herbal-cherry flavors.  Always 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes (called Brunello by locals) from Montalcino, south of Siena.

Caratello (KAHR AH TEHL LOH)
20- to 25-gallon wood barrel used to age wine, such as Vin Santo.

Carmignano (CAHR MEE NYAH NOH)
Intense, full-bodied red wine.  Cherry flavor.  From hills northwest of Florence.  Sangiovese with other red and white grapes added.

Cavatappi (KAH VAH TAHP PEE)
Corkscrew

Chianti (KYAHN TEE)
One of Italy’s most famous wine regions with seven zones.  Covers most of central Tuscany, including the hills from Florence to Siena.  Medium to full-bodied red wine. Cherry and blabkberry flavors. 75-100% Sangiovese grapes.  DOCG codes ensure quality.  Castello di Gabbiano sits in the prestigious Chianti Classico zone.

DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata)
The Italian government’s first wine quality codes—dictate geographic origin, grapes varieties, and vineyard and winemaking practices.

DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata Garantita)
Highest wine rating with the most stringent codes—specify geographic origin, grape varieties, and vineyard and winemaking practices.  Wines approved by government tasters.

Dolce (DOHL CHECH)
Sweet

Enoteca (EH NOH TEH KAH)
Wine shop

Fattoria (FAHT TOH REE AH)   
Estate, farm.

Frizzante (FREE TZAHN THE)
Slightly sparkling

Galestro (GAH LEHS TROH)
Simple, easy drinking white wine from Chianti area.

Grappa (GRAHP PAH)
Distilled drink made from grape skins, seeds and stems leftover from winemaking.  Sold in bottles of all shapes, sizes and colors.  A specialty of Friuli where it is customary to swirl grappa in dinner’s espresso cup and drink it down.

IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)
Newest government category often assigned to non-traditional wines, such as, “Super Tuscans”.  Varietal, vintage and vineyard can be listed on the label.

Moscadello di Montalcino (MOHS KAH DEHL LOH. DEE. MOHN TAHL CHEE NOH)
Sweet white wine of Muscat grapes grown around Montalcino.

Passito (PAHS SEE TOH)
A method of making wine using grapes that are hung to dry or dried on mats.

Pomino Bianco (POH MEE NOH. BYAHN KOH)
Dry, full-bodied rich white wine, usually oak-aged.  Blend of Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay grapes—grown just east of Florence.

Pomino Rosso (POH MEE NOH. ROHS SOH)
A red wine made of Sangiovese, Merlot, cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir grapes.  Produced in the hills just east of Florence.  Flavors of blueberry and cassis.

Rosato / Rosso (ROH SAH TOH /  ROHS SOH)
Rosé / red

Sassicaia (SAHS SEE KAHY AH)
Famous, expensive red wine from Bolheri on Tuscany’s coast.  Blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and cabernet Franc.  The original “Super Tuscan”.  Ripe blackberry flavors often with oak.

Secco (SEHK KOH)
Dry

Spumante (SPOO MAHN THE)
Sparkling
                             
Super Tuscan
Non-traditional Tuscan wines; often a winery’s best wine.  Expensive.  Varietals vary—Sangiovese, Merlot, Syah, and Cabernet Sauvignon are popular (blends to 100%). Often oak-aged.

Vendemmia (VEHN DEHM MYAH)
Vintage

Vernaccia di San Gimignano (VEHR NAHCH CHYAH. DEE. SAHN. GEE MEE NYAH NOH)
Dry white wine;rich herbal flavors. Vernaccia grapes from San Gimignano.

Vino da Tavola (VEE NOH DAH. TAH VOH LAH)
Lowest wine category; cannot list region, grape varietal or vintage on label.
 
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (VEE NOH. NOH BEE LEH. DEE. MOHN TEH POOL CHYAH NOH)
Full-bodied red wine.  Sangiovese grapes blended with other varietals.  Similar to Chianti, but more complex.

Vin Santo (VEEN. SAHN TOH)
Dessert wine