GAM| Abruzzo | Ah
BROOT zoe (d'Abruzzo - duh Broot zoe) |
Wine growing region in East Central Italy famous for white Trebbiano and red Montepulciano |
| Alsace | Al SASS | French wine growing region in NE France |
| Alicante Bouschet | Ah Lee Cont Boo SHAY | French red grape used for jug wines |
| Amarone | Ah Ma ROW Nee | Italian red grape for full bodied wines |
| Anise | ANN iss | Licorice add to some wines to increase acids |
| Appellation Controlee | Ah pell ah see ON Cohn troll LAY | French legally defined growing region - AOC |
| Apulia |
Ah POOL Yuh | Appellation
in Italy's heel producing huge amounts of generally table wines |
| Armagnac | Ahr
muh gun YAK or Ahr mun Yak |
Brandy produced in the Armagnac region of Gascony in SW France +3 |
| Asti
Spumonte |
AH
Stee Spoo MON teh |
Asti
is a town in Italy's Piedmont region famous for its
semi-sweet sparkling wine +3 |
| Barbaresco | Bar Bah RES Coe | Wonderful red Nebbiolo wine from the Piedmont region of NW Italy +4 |
| Barbera | Bar BARE ah | Wonderful red wine from the Piedmont region of NW Italy +4 |
| Bardolino | Bar doe LEE No | Italian light red blended wine from the Veneto +1 |
| Barolo | Bar ROW Lo | Excellent Red Nebbiolo wine from the Piedmont region of NW Italy +4 |
| Batard Montrachet |
Ba(h) TAR |
Appellation within the famous
Puligny-Chassagne communes in Burgundy, home to 4 Grand Cru Chardonnays |
| Beaujolais
(Villages) |
Bo
zho Lay (vee LAZH) |
Light, fruity red from the Gamay grape of the Beaujolais region of Burgundy France +2 |
| Bordeaux | Bore DOE | Superior wine growing region in France. My personal preferred favorite. +4 |
| Botrytis
Cinerea |
Bow
TRY tis Sin ERR ee uh |
The
mold
"Noble Rot" which produces the intensely flavored Sauternes and desert
wines |
| Bouquet | Boo KAY | A wines "aroma" matures to "bouquet" with ageing |
| Bourgogne | Boor GONE Yeh | French for Burgundy - World famous growing region |
| Brouilly | Brule
Yee |
Famous
appellation in the Beaujolais region producing top Gran Cru Gamay wines
|
| Brunello
di Montalcino |
Brew
NELL Oh Dee Mawn Tall CHEE No |
Wonderful red Sangiovese Brunello based wine from the Tuscany region of Italy. If I could afford this stuff, it would be my favorite. +4 |
| Burgundy | BURR Gun Dee | French wine growing region producing excellent Pinot Noir and Chablis |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Cab er NAY Sew Veen YON | King of the red grape producing rich full bodied wines. A personal favorite. +4 |
| Canaiolo | Can eye OH low | Red blending grape from Tuscany used in Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano |
| Carignan | Car een YON | Fruity red grape frequently used to produce table wines |
| Carmenere | Car men YAIR | Red blending grape grown mostly in Chile |
| Cave |
Cawv |
French
term for cellar |
| Chablis | Shaw BLEE | Wonderful Chardonnay wine from the Chablis region of Burgundy +2 |
| Champagne | Sham Pain | Sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France blended with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier |
| Chardonnay | Shar Doe Nay | King of the white grape producing excellent versatile wines +2 |
| Chassagne-Montrachet |
Shaw SAWN - (Yuh) | Famous
village in Burgundy for Premier Cru Chardonnay and Grand Cru Pinot Noir |
| Chateau | Shot Toe | Winery
"Castle" and vineyard for French wines
(Chateaux = plural) |
| Chateauneuf
du Pape |
Shot
Toe NOOF Dew Pop |
Outstanding
red wine from the Rhone region of France.
Very complex blend of up to 13 specific
grapes. (new winery (house) of the pope) +4 |
| Chenin Blanc | SHAY Non Blon | Excellent white grape producing dry to slightly sweet fruity wine |
| Chianti | Key AWN Tee | Wonderful red Sangiovese blend from the Tuscany region of Italy - Italy's #1 Sales +4 |
| Claret | Clair IT | British slang for red Bordeaux |
| Clos | Cloe | French name for a walled vineyard |
| Cote Rotie | Coat Row TEE & COOT Row Tee | Wonderful Syrah based red from the Rhone region of France +3 |
| Cotes du Rhone | Coat do Rone | Red, Grenache based, or white table wine from the Southern Rhone region of France +2 |
| Courvoisier | Coor VWOY zee | A brand name producer from the Cognac region north of Bordeaux Fance +4 |
| Cremant |
Cray MAN | French
name for Methode Champenoise sparkling wines not
produced in the AOC Champange |
| Cru
Classe |
Crew
Claw SAY |
French
word for "growth" indicating high quality - Classe
means the vineyard is legally calssified |
| Cru Bourgeois | Crew Boogh WAH | French
term for a wine growth without distinction - Table
wine - Very deceiving term - These are great wines |
| Cru, Grand | Gron Closs SAY | Grand Cru or Grand Cru Classe - French term for "Great Growth" |
| Cuvee | Coo VAY | French word for "vat" indicating a blend of grapes |
| Demi Sec | DEHM ee Sek | French term for "half dry" - indicating semi sweet wines (Except for Champagne) |
| Denominazione
di Origine Controlata |
>>
see next column >> |
Day
Nom E Nah Zee ON Nay - Dee - Oh Ree GEE
Nay Con Troll OTT ta (whew!) DOCG =Gah Ron Tee Tah - "DOC" Italian equivalent of French Appellation Controlee |
| Dolce | Dole CHAY | Italian word for "sweet" |
| Dolcetto | Dole CHET toe | Fruity red grape form the Piedmont region of NW Italy +3 |
| Domaine | Doe Main | French word for "Estate" and/or vineyard |
| Entre-Deux-Mers |
Ahn
Truh DEW Murr |
"Between
Two Seas" (Dordogne and Garonne Rivers) White wine
appellation in SE Bordeaux |
| Fiasco | Fee
YASS Co |
Flask
- Straw covered bottle popular with Chianti |
| Fronsac | Frawn Sak | Village on the right bank of Bordeaux producing big, powerful reds, a good source of value wines |
| Gamay | GAM May | Wonderful red grape from the Beaujolais region of Burgundy +2 |
| Gattinara | Gaw
tee NAH rah |
Excellent
red Nebbiolo based wine from the Piedmont +4 |
| Gewurztraminer | Gah VERTZ Tra Me Nur | Slightly sweet white grape from the Alsace region of France +3 |
| Graves |
Grawv |
Appellation
in the Southern Bordeaux South of Pessac-Leognan |
| Grenache | Grey NOSH | Widely planted versatile red grape for light to hearty wines - Best in France Southern Rhone +2 |
| Haut Medoc | Oh May Doc | Important region of the Medoc region of the Bordeaux region |
| Languedoc |
Lawn
Geh Dock |
Southern
France region known for producing table wines |
| Listrac |
LEES
Trac |
Important
commune in the Haut Medoc of Bordeaux |
| Macon Villages |
MAH kun Vill LAZH |
Appellation for Chardonnay grapes from selected communes of the Mâconnais area of Southern Burgundy. |
| Malbec | Mall
Beck |
Red
blending grape used in Bordeaux (2 to 8%) Gaining
popularity as a varietal in Argentina +2 |
| Malolactic | MAY Low LACK Tick | Secondary
fermentation will soften the harsh/tart malo acid
into softer lactic acid for smoother mouth feel |
| Malvasia | Mall
Vah ZEE Ah |
Sweet
white grape used for blending into Chianti and as a stand alone desert
wine +2 |
| Margaux | Mar GO | Important
commune in the Medoc region of the Bordeaux
producing outstanding wines |
| Marsanne | Mar SAHN | Wonderful white grape of the Rhone region of France |
| Merlot | Mare LOW | Versatile red grape for blending or a soft mellow wine +1 |
| Montepulciano |
Mawn Teh Pull CHA No | Red
grape for full bodied table wines - Abruzzo DOCG
appellation - Great value wines +3 |
| Montrachet |
Mawn
rah SHAY |
Famous
growing region of Burgundy producing Grand Cru
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir |
| Morellino di Scansano | Maw
ree LEE no dee Scan SAW no |
DOC
Sangiovese zone located in the southern portion of Tuscany +4 |
| Moulis |
MOO
Le |
Important
commune in the Haut Medoc of Bordeaux |
| Mourvedre | Moor VAY Druh | Strong red grape from the Rhone, Spain and California +2 |
| Muscat | MUSS Cat | Sweet, fruity, aromatic white grape used for desert wines |
| Nebbiolo | Neh Be-OH Low | Excellent powerful red grape of Italy's Piedmont region A strong personal favorite +4 |
| Negroamaro |
NEH gro ah MAR oh |
Dark red grape from Puglia producing fruity, full bodied, tannic wines +2+ |
| Nouveau | NEW Voe | French
term for "new" - Beaujolais
Nouveau released 3rd Thursday in November |
| Pauillac | PO-E
Yah or POY
Yak |
Village in the Haut-Medoc region in Bordeaux - If this name is on the bottle, buy it |
| Pessac-Leognan |
PAY
Sac-LEO gah NON |
Appellation
in the Southern Bordeaux region North of Graves |
| Petit
Syrah |
Puh TEE (TEET) See Rah | California grape producing deep red full bodied tannic spicy wines +4 |
| Petit
Verdot |
Puh
TEE (TEET) Vare DOE |
Bordeaux
grape producing deep red full bodied tannic spicy wines - popular for
blending +4 |
| Petrus,
Chateau |
PEH
Truce |
Producer
in Pomeral, Bordeaux. World famous for outstanding Merlot +4 |
| Piedmont
- Piemonte |
PEED
Mont - Pee Eh MON Tay |
N/W
Italian wine region producing Nebbiolo, Borolo and other
outstanding wines |
| Pinot Grigio | PEE no GREE Jo | Italian/(French) white grape for crisp, dry wine (see Pinot Gris) +2 |
| Pinot Gris | PEE no GREE |
French / (Italian) white grape for crisp, dry wine (see Pinot Grigio) +2 |
| Pinot Noir | PEE no No WAH | Excellent red grape of Burgundy +4 - California-Oregon variety +2 |
| Pinotage | Pee No TAHJ | South African red wine without distinction |
| Pomerol | PA Mer All | Right-Bank
Village near St. Emilion in Bordeaux famous for
Chateaux Petrus and Le Pin |
| Pouilly Fuisse | Poo
Yee Fwee SAY or Pwee |
Chardonnay based white Burgundy from the Burgundy region +2 |
| Pouilly Fume | Poo
Yee Foo MAY or Pwee |
Sauvignon Blanc based white Loire dry and tart seafood wine +2 |
| Prosecco | Proh SAKE Coh | White grape grown in Italy's Veneto region used for making cheap sparkling wine |
| Puligny-Montrachet |
Pew
Lee NEE |
Famous
village in Burgundy home to 4 Grand Cru Chardonnays considered best in
world |
| Rhone | Roan | Excellent French wine region known for Syrah (North) and Grenache (South) |
| Riesling | REES Ling | Excellent grape of the German Rhine and French Alsace - Aromatic, slightly sweet. +3 |
| Rioja | Ree OH Ha | Excellent Spanish red Tempranillo based wine. +3 |
| Roussillon | RUE See On | Minor Appellation region in Southern France usually associated with Languedoc |
| Sangiovese | San Joe VAY Seh | Excellent red grape of Tuscany for rich full bodied wine (Chianti) A personal favorite +4 |
| Sauternes | Sew TAIRN | French desert wine from Bordeaux region (Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon) |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Sew Veen YON Blon | Widely planted versatile white grape producing solid dry wines |
| Semillon | SAY me Yon | Bland French white grape usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc, A varietal in California +1 |
| Shiraz | She RAHZ | Australian / South African term for Syrah |
| Soave |
Swah
Veh |
Italian
dry or semi sweet sparkling white wine from Veneto made with Garganega and Trebbiano grapes - Italy's #3 Sales +2 |
| Sommelier | So Mell Yay | Restuarant wine waiter |
| Spumante | Spu MON Tay | Italian
semi sweet sparkling wine (Asti Spumante) from
the Piedmonte made with Muscat grape - Italy's #2
Seller +3 |
| Syrah | See RAH | Excellent and powerful red grape of Rhone - Full bodied - Aromatic and Tannic +4 |
| Tannat | TAN At or (Fr) Tan
NAW |
Full bodied highly tannic French red grape with lighter bodied clones very popular in Uruguay and Argentina |
| Tannin | Tannin | Tannic acid in young astringent, "cotton-mouth" red wines |
| Tastevin | Tess
Te VEEN or VUN |
Sommelier's silver tasting cup "Taste Wine" |
| Tavernello |
Tav Ver NELL O |
Brand name for Italy's top selling
wines - Screw
cap IGT quaffing table reds and whites |
| Tempranillo | Temp Ra NEEL yo | Excellent and powerful red grape of Spain (Rioja) +3 |
| Terroir | Tear WAH | Growing region containing specific appellations with very similar soil and weather |
| Torrontes | Tor RON taze | White
quaffing wine from Argentina - aromatic & fruity +2 |
| Trebbiano |
Treb e AH no | Italian
white blending grape used in Chianti and brandy
(Cognac in France) (Ugni Blanc in France & Saint Emilion in Cal) |
| Tuscany | TUSS Can Ee | Great region of central Italy, Sangiovese, Chianti, Brunello, Super Tuscans |
| Ugni
Blanc |
OO
Nee Blonk |
French
white blending grape (Trebbiano in Italy & Saint
Emilion in Cal) |
| Valpolicella | Vahl Pole Ee CHEL Lah | Italian
red medium to light bodied dry wine from the Veneto
region +2 |
| Varietal | Vuh Rye eh tell | Wines made from a specific grape such as Chardonnay - Merlot - Zinfandel |
| Vino
da Tavola |
VEE
no duh Ta VOL ah |
Lowest
Italian wine rating - Wine of the Table - BUT - Also applies
to
Super Tuscans |
| Vino Nobile di Montepulciano | VEE
no NAW be lay dee mawn teh pool CHAH no |
Red blended medium bodied wine from the commune of Montepulciano in Southern Tuscany made from the Sangiovese Prugnolo grape (maximum 80%) and Canaiolo or other approved local and international varietals. +3 |
| Viognier | Vee Own YAY | French white from the Rhone region, best when blended |
| Vouvray | Voov RAY | Chenin Blanc versatile white ranging from very dry to dessert wines |
| Zinfandel | Zin Fan DELL | Outstanding red grape producing big, powerful, full-bodied wines +4 |
Please
let me know if I have mis-pronounced a word, or if
the pronunciation is not clear,
or if you would like to see additional
popular words added to the list.
Click on the email link below to pass along your comments.
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