An integral component of wine that adds much of the wine's body. Most wines are between 7 and 14 percent alcohol by volume. Examples are Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. Aperitif - French word for an alcoholic beverage served before dinner. Defines the area where a wine's grapes were grown.
Regulations vary from country to country.
Astringent - Causing a dry feeling in the mouth. Wine with excess tannins will feel this way. This could be the sign of a young wine in need of aging. It may also simply need to breathe. Bacchus - Another name for Dionysus, the Greek and Roman god of wine.