Volatile substances originated during alcohol oxidation. These substances add aromas to wines and distillates. Ethyl aldehyde appears in wines that suffered strong aeration.

 

Incisive aroma characteristic of some wines that underwent oxygen ageing, like Sherry, some Ports and Catalonian rancid wines.

 

Red grape vine (also called aleática) grown in the Mediterranean (Corcega and Italy). Some consider it a red mutation of Moscatel.

 

Important wine region. It occupies about 1/3 of Portuguese territory and almost the entire southern area, but only 0.55% of the territory is occupied by vines. Alentejo produces rich, full bodied wines that, in the last couple of years, have stood out nationally and internationally for their quality and, in many cases, for their excellent quality/price relation. It is divided into 8 sub-regions: Borba, Portalegre, Redondo, Reguengos, Vidigueira, Granja-Amareleja, Évora and Moura. All of them are DOCs. The main white grape varieties are Roupeiro, Arinto and Antão Vaz, and the main red grape varieties are Trincadeira, Aragonês and Periquita.

 

Important red grape variety of the Douro region. It is also found in Bairrada and Alentejo, though in lesser quantities.

 

Portuguese wine region demarcated in 1980. It occupies the southern coast of Portugal and a great part of the homonymous administrative region. It is formed by the Lagoa, Lagos, Portimão and Tavira DOCs. The vine area has been continuously decreasing due to urban pressure and there are only two producers left. The main grape varieties are the white Perrum, Manteudo and Diagalves, and the red Negra Mole and Periquita.

 

In some places in Spain, generic name for different red grape vines (Grenache, Merlot) that produce well pigmented wines, rich in alcohol and resembling intense, dark wines that were formerly imported from Alicante.

 

Red grape vine used to colour less pigmented wines. It is produced by hybridisation and is the most grown in its category.

 

White grape vine of Bourgogne grown in less fertile soils because the better fields are used to grow Chardonnay. Usually, wines made up of the Aligoté grape should be drunk young. If you blend this wine with syrup you will get an appetiser called kir, in memory of the canon Joseph Kir.

 

Said of a wine that is rich in sodium and potassium salts.