Wine Glossary W-Z

Glossary Terms A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z    0-9

W

Weight

Wine Advocate

The wine journal published by authoritative US critic Robert Parker Jr. The journal contains only reviews of wines conducted by Parker or by a small team of correspondents working for him, and carries no advertising or other journalistic material. Its wine reviews have been made famous by virtue of Parker's 100 point scoring system.

X

Y

Yeast

A microscopic unicellular fungi which converts the sugars in grape must to alcohol (alcoholic fermentation). Whilst yeasts are naturally present on the grape skins, some winemakers prefer the greater control over the fermentation process, that adding cultured yeasts affords. However, some argue that this practice detrimentally affects the quality of the wine as the multiple strains present naturally add a complexity of flavours that a single cultured strain cannot match.

Z

Zymology

The study of fermentation and the action of enzymes as it takes place.