Glossary of Wine Terms

By Gayot Editors

H

Wine Glossary H

Select a Letter:

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

HARD — Describes wines with high acidity or tannic astringency; opposite of lush. Young wines may lose their hardness with time.

HARSH — Excessively hard.

HERBACEOUS — Possessing a distinctively grassy or herbal smell, particularly associated with some Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots and Sauvignon Blancs. Sometimes erroneously used to describe vegetal character.

HOLLOW — Used to describe a wine that lacks depth; shallow; empty.

HOT — Causing a burning sensation when swallowed as a result of high alcohol content.

HYBRID — The result of cross-breeding two species of grapes.