Gallo of Sonoma - Glossary

Balance: Harmony among a wine’s components: fruit, acidity, tannins, and alcohol. Great wines have balance. Also known as “integration.”
Barrel: Wooden barrels are most typically made of oak and used to store and age wine. They typically come from the U.S., Hungary, and France.
Benchland Areas: Vineyards located on hillsides where the soil typically has a high percentage of inorganic rocks, promoting optimal drainage.
Blend: Term used to describe wine made by blending (even to a tiny degree) a grape variety with other grape varieties or other vintages.
Body: The perceived weight of a wine, sensation of fullness. The density of a wine on the palate — either light, medium, or full.
Bouquet: Smells that result from the fermentation or aging process. See Nose.
Brix: Measurement of the sugar content of grapes before they are harvested. Used to estimate the alcohol content of the resulting wine.
Buttery: The result of malolactic fermentation is diacetyl, which can give wine a buttery taste.