NATIONAL WINE WEEK 2025

How wine jargon leaves Brits in terroir: More than 50% of wine lovers are baffled by its terminology while a third are left embarrassed when asked to describe a type

We may be changing from beer fans to wine buffs, but most of us still don't know our terroir from our tannins. More than half of so-called wine lovers are baffled by its terminology. According to a survey, 48 per cent have been caught out at a dinner party for using jargon they did not properly understand. Meanwhile, 34 per cent were left embarrassed when asked to describe a wine they brought to a dinner party, and 36 per cent would not feel confident explaining what a blended wine is. The most confusing term for those intimidated by the grapes of wrath, according to 60 per cent of those polled, is 'terroir', with one in 20 thinking it means 'terribly good'. In fact, it refers to the environmental conditions that affect the taste and quality of a wine. Other wine words that leave Brits scratching their heads include 'caudalie' (44 per cent) – the measurement of how long the taste stays on the palate, and 'oenology' (41 per cent) – the science of wine and wine-making. The terms 'maceration' (41 per cent) – the process of soaking wine skins to extract colour and tannins, and 'cuvee' (41 per cent) – a wine made with a blend of different varieties of grapes, were also among the list of the 20 terms many don't really understand.