Field Guide · The Wine Code
The words, decoded.
Everything on the label and in the tasting note — in plain English.
Term
Tannin
The grippy, drying sensation from grape skins and oak. Structure, not flavor.
Term
Terroir
The sum of soil, climate, and place that a wine tastes of. Not marketing — mostly.
Term
Decant
Pouring wine off its sediment and into air. Wakes up the young, steadies the old.
Term
Legs
The streaks down the glass. They tell you about alcohol, not quality.