Wine Accessories and Gifts

French Wine Dictionary

Wines

Baccarat Young Wine Decanter 
Part of his United Woods collection, Marcel Wanders' Young wine decanter is elegant and chic, a perfect complement to your favorite vintages

Peugeot Elegance Collection Pocket-sized Clef du Vin - Frontgate
When properly used, each second the Clef du Vin disk with catalyst dot is in contact with the wine mimics one year of natural bottle aging by acting upon specific compounds found in all wines. The catalyst dot is made of an internationally patented alloy of precious and industrial metals that is certified as food safe

Prima Donna Serveware, Set of 4 Wine Label Dishes
Bottle of red, bottle of white, these glass dishes feature vintage labels from four popular varietals for inspired wine and cheese parties. Great for serving cocktail-hour treats in addition to your favorite fromage

Christofle Malmaison Corkscrew
From the Malmaison Collection. A stunning, two-piece silver tone bar essential is crafted with polished silver plating and signature, Empire-style palmettes

Christofle Malmaison Drop Ring
From the Malmaison Collection. Signature, Empire-style lotus leaves and palmettes are etched into a silver tone essential for every wine lover.

acerbe/astringent: tart 
acrid: pronounced acidity
amertume: bitter
apéritif: appetizer

Appelation d'Origine or Appelation Controle: label term signifying origin and legal right to the name
assertive: upfront, bold
balanced: fruit, acid, wood flavors in the right proportion
bouquet/nose: aroma; sève/palate--flavor and body
Brandy click for a selection of Cognac and Armagnac plus glossary of terms
buttery: flavor and mouth feel, usually Chardonnay
chambrer: bringing reds to room temperature (65-68) gradually
Champagne click for glossary and wine from this region
charnu/ full bodied, big, rich, fills the mouth; léger/light: thin
chateau-bottled: usually Bordeaux, bottled on estate where the grapes are grown
chewy: rich, heavy, tannic, full-bodied

goût/taste: bon goût--good taste; goût de bois-- woody taste; de bouchon--corky ( from diseased cork even in fine wines); d'évent--flat from contact with air; de pierre à fusil/flinty--found in Chablis; de pique--vinegary; de terroir--earthy, usually reds
heady: smell of high alcohol content
legs: viscous droplets that form on sides of the glass when wine is swirled
mou/flabby: lacking in character; mouillé--watered
musty: moldy, unpleasant smell
oxidized: stale, "off,"--too much contact with air
pourriture noble/noble rot: over-ripe grapes making very sweet Sauternes
robust: full-bodied, intense, vigorous
sediment: natural deposits. Decanting-- transferring to decanter for serving.
tannin: acid found especially in reds necessary for aging (dry sensation)
tasting tip: light to fuller bodied, whites before reds, dry to sweet
toasty/oaky: hint of wooden barrel, usually dry whites
usé: passed its peak
velouté/velvety: rich flavor, silky texture
verte/green: usually too young to drink
vin/wine: naturally fermented juice from pressed grapes. du pays: regional wines drunk locally; de goutte: last pressing, poor quality; de garde: worth aging; cuit: concentrated, added to improve other wines; doux: sweet; mousseux: sparkling; ordinaire: table wine; sec: dry
vintage wines: dated bottle, entirely from one harvest only in the best years 
color: from contact with pigment found on grape skin: none, white; limited, rosé, extended, red
Confréries: ancient wine fraternities
coupé/blended: similar wines married for uniform quality; cuvée--the blend
corps/body--richness in alcohol, flavor
corsé: full bodied
crisp: fresh, young
cru: growth or vineyard
complex: all flavor components in harmony
coulant/attractive: easy to drink

délicat/delicate: light- weight with nice flavor
depth: subtle, complex, concentrated layers of flavor; thin lacks body and depth
domaine: followed by a name indicates ownership
élégance/elegant: grace, balance but not longevity
fading: losing color, fruit or flavor
finish/aftertaste: taste remaining after swallowing. Long, lingering finish indicates good quality; short: not remaining on the palate
flat: low acidity or sparkling wine that has lost its bubbles
fruité/Fruity: body, richness with some sweetness-- apples, berries or herbs

There are four main classifications of wine:

Alcoholic content 14% or less. Improve after bottling. The main wine grape growing areas are Alsace (fine white), Loire (moderately priced reds and whites), southern France (inexpensive table wines), the Rhône (wines that match with strongly flavored foods) and, of course, Bordeaux and Burgundy (arguably the best wines in the world).

Sparkling

Champagne 

Fortified

Alcohol increased by adding brandy. Best known types not made in France.  Alcoholic content 16 to 23%.

Vermouth. Alcoholic content 15 1/2 to 20%.

 Tour de France Wine Gift Pack - Wine Collection Gift

Veuve Clicquot Veuve Clicquot & Godiva - Wine Collection Gift
Celebrate with Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec, a slightly sweet style of Champagne. Marked by fresh peach, nectarine and orange blossom, this Demi-Sec pairs beautifully with Godiva's assorted deep dark chocolates, smooth milks, velvety ganaches, classic truffles and pralines.

Thirstystone Coasters, Set of 4 Cabernet Wine Label Coasters with Trivet 
Put a cork under it. Naturally absorbent and sustainable, Thirstystone coasters and a coordinating trivet embellished like a fine bottle of cabernet will protect sensitive surfaces with a style that's straight from the vineyard. With wooden caddy

Certified International Serveware, Vintage Wine 4 Tile Wood Tray
A fine vintage. Mix-and-match wine-themed serveware with old-world corkscrew, grape and stemware prints are a charming accompaniment to every course, giving your table a warm and cozy wine-bar feel

 
Certified International Barware, Vintage Wine Cooler
A fine vintage. With old-world corkscrew, grape and winery prints, this charming wine cooler keeps whites cool but gives your table a warm and cozy wine-bar feel

 Grand Hotel de Paris Footed Centerpiece Bowl
We just love the elegance of this Grand Hotel de Paris Antique Pewter finish footed centerpiece bowl. It's something like you might see at the Hotel Ritz or Le Meurice!