The world of wine is rich and diverse, filled with a multitude of terms and expressions that capture the nuances of grape varieties, winemaking techniques, and tasting experiences. Whether you're a wine enthusiast, a traveler exploring wine regions, or a professional in the wine industry, understanding how wine terminology translates across different languages can deepen your appreciation and knowledge of wine.
Working in a new country can indeed be stressful if you don't have the necessary language skills, especially during intense periods like the grape harvest. Therefore, it's important to discover and learn the technical terms to be prepared. It’s also helpful if you ever find yourself in a wine tasting; knowledge of local terms will surely help with the appreciation of the wine and all of the hard work behind it.
Let's start with some basic terms then:
- Wine
- French: Vin
- Spanish: Vino
- Italian: Vino
- Must
- French: Moût
- Spanish: Mosto
- Italian: Mosto
- Cellar
- French: Cave
- Spanish: Bodega or Cava
- Italian: Cantina
- Winery
- French: Domaine viticole or Vignoble
- Spanish: Bodega
- Italian: Azienda vinicola
- Bottle
- French: Bouteille
- Spanish: Botella
- Italian: Bottiglia
- Vinification
- French: Vinification
- Spanish: Vinificación
- Italian: Vinificazione
- Microvinification
- French: Microvinification
- Spanish: Microvinificación
- Italian: Microvinificazione
- Enology
- French: Œnologie
- Spanish: Enología
- Italian: Enologia
- Liter
- French: Litre
- Spanish: Litro
- Italian: Litro
Now that you know how to say wine, let’s talk about the types of wine:
- Red wine
- French: Vin rouge
- Spanish: Vino tinto
- Italian: Vino rosso
- White wine
- French: Vin blanc
- Spanish: Vino blanco
- Italian: Vino bianco
- Rosé wine
- French: Vin rosé
- Spanish: Vino rosado
- Italian: Vino rosato
- Sparkling wine
- French: Vin pétillant
- Spanish: Vino espumoso
- Italian: Vino frizzante or Spumante
- Fortified wine
- French: Vin fortifié
- Spanish: Vino fortificado
- Italian: Vino liquoroso
- Sweet wine
- French: Vin doux
- Spanish: Vino dulce
- Italian: Vino dolce
If you want to learn more terms related to the world of winemaking, you can also check out our blog posts on wine jobs and the vineyard. We have also built a wine dictionary where you can find all of these terms to help enrich your vocabulary.
Translating wine terms across languages offers insights into the cultural and linguistic diversity of the wine world. Whether you're exploring French vineyards, savoring Italian wines, or indulging in Spanish delicacies, it will add a depth and richness to the tasting experience. So the next time you raise a glass of vino, whether it’s rouge, rosso, or tinto, take a moment to appreciate the universal experience that brings people together across cultures and continents.
Salud, santé, cin cin, and cheers to the language of wine!
