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Edes
The term for “sweet” in Hungary, often used to denote sweet wines from Tokaji, as well as a few other regions.
Egrappage
A French viticulture term for destemming. This is the process of removing the stems from the grape bunches before the pressing for the juice happens. If too many stems are left in the pressing stage, an unwanted bitterness can find its way into the wine.
Eiswein
A term found on wine labels in Germany and Austria. This style of wine is produced when the grapes are left to freeze on the vines well after the original harvest date, in an effort to concentrate the sugar and make a naturally sweet wine.
Élevage (France)
A term that translates into “brining up” in French, denoting the resting and ageing process that the wine goes through before it is sold to the public. This can refer to the wine in barrel in the winery cellar, or the bottled product resting in the bottle cellar.
Entre-Deux-Mers
A subregion in Bordeaux, known for its moderately priced (and moderate quality) white wines. The region sits between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, surrounded by some of the most storied chateau in France.
Erzeugerabfüllung
Legal term for “Estate Bottled” and will be seen on wine labels in Germany of those producers who grow and produce the wine on the premises. Related wine label terms include abfüllung and gutsabfüllung.
Estufa
This term refers to Madeira (Portugal) that has been aged in a hot house or a room with stoves, meant to intentionally impart caramelized flavors and textures in the wine. Madeira has a history of creative wine production techniques, as the wines, historically, were sold to ships passing through the Atlantic and needed to hold up to long ship voyages.
Extract
A wine tasting and/or production term. This refers to the solid matter that is present in the finished wine.
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Fermentation
The scientific process by which sugar is turned into alcohol by way of yeast interaction. Yeast is everywhere and crushed grapes, or grape juice, is destined for wine (or vinegar on a long enough timeline) as soon as the grape juice meets the yeast. Anything fruit with sugar can be turned into an alcoholic beverage, but only fine wine grapes give the consistency and quality to warrant an industry being formed around them.
Filtration
The removal of solid matter inside of wine, usually right before bottling. Sometimes known as "fining".
Finish
A term used in wine tasting. It describes the complexity of the wine by the way it lingers on the palate after drinking.
Fino
A wine term in Spain, specifically Jerez and the surrounding areas. It refers to a dry, light style of sherry that has a salty flavor due to the proximity to the ocean. It is aged under a layer of yeast cells, called a 'flor', which helps it retain its freshness. See Sherry.
First growths
The top tier of the 1855 classification for the left bank of Bordeaux. The five elite properties of the Medoc and Graves regions of Bordeaux: Latour, Lafite, Haut-Brion, Mouton-Rothschild and Margaux, which were picked out as 'Premier Cru Classé' in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification (Mouton Rothschild was promoted from a second growth in the 1973).
Flabby
A wine tasting term. It is used to describe a wine that has a less than desirable structural makeup and is usually low on acidity and balance.
Flying winemakers
A term that originated in Australia. It refers to winemakers who produce wines in different hemispheres, ostensibly executing two harvests a year.
Fondillón
A wine from Alicate, Spain. It is known for its high alcohol and oxidized aromas and flavors.
Fortified
A winemaking process by which high proof alcohol is infused into the fermenting wine in order to arrest the fermentation and protect or “fortify” the wine, once necessary for the long sea voyages that alcoholic beverages underwent. It is more for the continuity of style in modern times, with Jerez, Madeira and Oporto leading the most popular interpretations of the day.
Free-run juice
A winemaking term for the juice that runs off of the first pressing of wine grapes. This juice is prized, without any of the astringency of the subsequent pressings of the harvested grapes.
French hybrid grapes
Refers to the grape varieties produced in France that are the result of crossing the classic European varieties with American species of vines. These hybrids have much of the hardiness and disease resistance of the American vines but the wine quality generally isn't great.
French paradox
Also known as the European Paradox. It refers to the seemingly high fat, high cholesterol diets of the French yet low levels of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. It most likely fails to adequately recognize the low level of additives and hormones that European Union countries generally use for their food products.
Fruit-Forward
A wine tasting term that describes a wine that has more aromas and flavor of fruit (cherry, raspberry, blueberry) than non-fruit (cinnamon, leather, flowers). Generally, wine that hails from warmer climates will have more fruit-forward qualities than those from cooler areas. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley grows in a warmer microclimate than Bordeaux, France. The resulting wine is usually drier with more non-fruit qualities from Bordeaux with the Napa Valley example having more body, more alcohol and of course, ore fruit.
Furmint
Furmint is a white grape variety that is primarily associated with the Tokaj wine region in Hungary. It's the most important grape in the production of Tokaji wines, which are renowned for their sweetness and complexity. Furmint grapes are also grown in other parts of Hungary and in some neighboring countries like Slovakia and Austria.
Here are some key characteristics and features of the Furmint grape:
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Tokaji Wines: Furmint is a key component in the production of Tokaji wines, which include both dry and sweet styles. The grape's high acidity, thick skins, and susceptibility to noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) make it well-suited for crafting a range of styles, from dry to late-harvest sweet wines.
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Flavor Profile: Furmint grapes contribute to wines with a wide range of flavors, depending on the style and winemaking techniques. Dry Furmint wines can display notes of green apple, citrus, and minerality, often with pronounced acidity. In sweet wines, the flavors can include honey, apricot, quince, and botrytis-influenced nuances.
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Noble Rot: Noble rot, or Botrytis cinerea, is a beneficial type of fungal infection that can affect grape clusters under specific climatic conditions. In Tokaji production, noble rot is encouraged to concentrate the grape sugars, resulting in sweet and complex wines like Tokaji Aszú.
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Aging Potential: Furmint wines, both dry and sweet, can have excellent aging potential. Sweet Tokaji wines, in particular, can age for decades and develop rich and intricate flavors.
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Blending: In Tokaji Aszú production, Furmint grapes are often blended with other varieties, such as Hárslevelű and Muscat. The combination of these grape varieties contributes to the unique character and complexity of Tokaji wines.
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Acidity: Furmint is known for its high acidity, which lends balance and freshness to both dry and sweet wines.
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Other Regions: While Furmint is most closely associated with Tokaj, it has gained some attention in other wine regions as well. Some producers outside of Hungary have experimented with Furmint and have been impressed with its potential to produce high-quality wines.
Furmint's versatility in producing both dry and sweet wines, along with its unique flavor profile and aging potential, has made it a significant and prized grape variety, especially within the context of Tokaji wines. It's worth exploring Furmint wines if you're interested in experiencing the diversity of white wines that Hungary has to offer.