Kabinett is a German wine classification for wines made from fully ripe grapes, the lightest and least sweet category within the Prädikatswein quality system. Kabinett wines are known for their delicate, fresh, and lightly fruity character, with a balance of sweetness and acidity. They can be made in both dry […]
Wine Type
Tokaji (or Tokay) refers to wines from the Tokaj region of Hungary, famous for its sweet Tokaji Aszú, made from botrytized (noble rot) grapes. These wines are celebrated for their complexity, sweetness, and acidity balance, offering flavours of apricot, honey, and spices, with a remarkable aging potential.
Late Harvest wines are made from grapes left on the vine longer than usual to achieve higher sugar levels. This process concentrates the sugars and flavours, often leading to sweeter and more flavourful wines. Late Harvest wines can range from slightly sweet to intensely sweet dessert wines, showcasing rich, complex […]
Vin de Garde refers to wines with the potential to improve with age, typically possessing qualities like high acidity, tannins, and concentration that allow them to develop complexity over time. These wines are often stored under optimal conditions to achieve their full potential.
Meritage is a trademarked name for Bordeaux-style red and white blended wines made in the United States. Red Meritage blends are based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other Bordeaux varietals, while white Meritage blends use Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and occasionally Muscadelle. These wines are crafted to emulate the quality and […]
Vin Doux Naturel (VDN) is a category of French sweet fortified wine, where fermentation is stopped by the addition of grape spirit, preserving natural grape sugars. Produced in regions like Roussillon, VDN wines include Muscat de Rivesaltes and Banyuls, known for their rich, sweet flavours.
Amarone della Valpolicella, commonly known as Amarone, is a prestigious Italian dry red wine characterized by its unique production method involving the partial drying of grapes before fermentation. This process, known as appassimento, concentrates the sugars and flavours, resulting in a rich, full-bodied wine with a distinctive raisin-like sweetness despite […]
Non-Vintage (NV) refers to wines blended from grapes harvested in different years, common in Champagne and other sparkling wines. NV blending aims to achieve a consistent house style and quality across years, smoothing out variations between vintages. These wines can offer a reliable and characteristic expression of the producer’s style.
Zero Dosage refers to sparkling wines made without the addition of a dosage (sugar solution) after the second fermentation, resulting in a very dry style. These wines, also known as Brut Nature or Pas Dosé, showcase purity and terroir with minimal intervention.
Blanc de Blancs is a French term meaning “white from whites,” used to describe sparkling wines made exclusively from white grapes, typically Chardonnay. This style is most famously associated with Champagne but is also produced in other sparkling wine regions. Blanc de Blancs tend to have a light, crisp, and […]