Wine tasting vocabulary
Mendoza makes world-class Malbec — and the international wine trade runs on English tasting vocabulary. This glossary covers the 6 essential terms with bilingual explanations, examples and Mendoza-grounded notes.
The 5 S's of wine tasting
The ritual that orders every tasting — and the vocabulary that goes with it:
S
See
Colour and intensity against white: 'deep ruby', 'pale straw'.
S
Swirl
Oxygenate in glass: 'give it a good swirl' wakes the aromas.
S
Sniff
First and second nose: 'aromas of blackberry and violet'.
S
Sip
A sip coating the palate: 'full-bodied, firm tannins'.
S
Savor
The finish: 'long finish' if flavour persists, 'short' if it clips.
Glossary terms
tannin · tanino
Bitter plant compounds from grape skins, seeds and oak that create the drying, gripping sensation in your mouth. Tannins give red wine its structure and aging potential.
Malbec · malbec
A black-skinned grape from France that found its true home in Mendoza, Argentina. It makes deep violet wines with plum, blackberry and chocolate notes.
terroir · terroir
The complete natural environment of a vineyard — soil, altitude, climate and human tradition — that gives a wine its sense of place. Pronounced 'teh-RWAHR'.
decanting · decantación
Pouring wine into a wide vessel before serving, to aerate it (young wines) or separate sediment (old wines).
legs · lágrimas
The droplets that slide down the glass after swirling, also called tears. They show alcohol and glycerol levels — not quality, despite the myth.
corked · acorchado
A wine spoiled by TCA, a cork contaminant: it smells of wet cardboard, damp basement or old newspaper, and the fruit disappears.
Frequently asked
What are the 5 S's for wine tasting?▼
What are some common wine tasting expressions?▼
What are the four elements of wine tasting?▼
Taste it where it's made
Learn the vocabulary in real context: Mendoza winery tours with English-speaking guides and teachers.