Glossary of Wine Terms

By Gayot Editors

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Select a Letter:

A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T V W Y

OAKY— Describes a wine that smells and /or tastes of the oak barrel in which it was aged. Vanilla, as well as toasty flavors, can be derived from the barrel.

OFF — Flawed; bad or in any way unpleasant.

OFF-DRY — Slightly sweet or semi-sweet.

OVERCROPPING — Allowing the vine to produce more fruit than its is capable of bringing to maturity, resulting in an inferior wine and causing damage to the vine.

OVERRIPE — Term applied to wines made from overripe fruit, resulting in high alcohol content, heaviness, and imbalance.

OXIDIZED — Applies to wines that are in the final stage of life, resulting in a brownish color and loss of freshness; may occur prematurely in wines that are exposed to oxygen.