The Language of Wine

The first glance into the glass already tells a story. A red wine is never just red—it may shimmer with delicate copper hues or glow with deep purplish tones. A white wine can range from pale straw to rich golden yellow and even reach amber shades that verge on orange. Clarity also plays a role: a wine may appear hazy, clear, or brilliantly luminous. Swirling the glass slightly reveals its texture—does the wine move like water, or does it leave slow, viscous legs on the inside of the glass?

Then comes the nose—this is where the language of wine reveals its full depth. Floral notes may recall violets, linden blossoms, or elderflower. Herbaceous aromas, like thyme or rosemary, might also gently emerge. Fruit is often more pronounced: ripe cherries, blackberries, blackcurrants, but also apple, quince, or citrus peel. Mineral tones evoke wet stone or chalk, while earthy notes might recall forest floor or truffle. Some wines surprise with spicy accents—clove, cinnamon, nutmeg. Others reveal toasty aromas like coffee, roasted nuts, or bread crust—clear signs of aging in oak barrels, particularly barriques. And finally, there are elegant wood-driven notes such as vanilla, coconut, or a subtle touch of smoke.

Finally, the palate. This is where it becomes clear whether a wine is dry—meaning it has little to no perceivable sweetness—or leans toward sweetness. Acidity determines whether the wine feels fresh and lively or soft and rounded. A wine is described as juicy when it flows smoothly over the palate, without any astringency or dryness. That drying sensation comes from tannins—phenolic compounds found in grape skins, seeds, and stems—which give structure to the wine and can feel either coarse or silky, depending on their quality. Holding the wine in your mouth for a few seconds reveals its body: some wines are light and graceful, others full and weighty. And then comes the final impression—the finish, or aftertaste—which can be short, medium, or long-lasting, sometimes with a hint of sweetness, other times with a lingering spice.

The result is a layered, multifaceted impression—accessible even to those without technical knowledge, yet engaging enough to captivate experienced wine lovers.