Wine is full of trendy buzzwords like natural, low-sulfur, terroir-driven, sustainable, low-intervention, and more. Which actually matter, and which are just jargon co-opted for marketing purposes?
Vicki Denig is a freelance wine and travel journalist who divides her time between New York and Paris. She is a certified wine specialist who has worked in the wine trade since 2013. Buzzwords like “terroir-driven” and “sustainable” have long been used to capture consumers’ attention, especially in wine.
However, a lack of concrete definitions surrounding these terms has led to confusion and misinformation among drinkers and producers. We asked four industry professionals to weigh in on how helpful or hurtful wine buzzwords can be and had them break down the meanings behind some of the industry’s most used phrases. Brooklyn-based wine journalist Eliza Dumais finds that buzzwords can provide a solid entry point to particular facets of the industry, but will only bring a consumer so far. “For folks who sincerely adopt an interest in wine, buzzwords are like gateway terms,” she says. “They can be easy, topical entry points that give way to a more personal and nuanced vocabulary.”, says that buzzwords can often flatten the context in wine. “They are very helpful for consumers who don’t really want to engage with wine or get into it,” he says. “But for people who know what they want, they are fairly useless in the part of what makes wine fun and interesting.” Certain buzzwords — like sustainability, terroir, low sulfur, and natural wine — are used more frequently than others. But rather than overuse, the key problem with these terms is their lack of set definition, as well as the subjective nature surrounding their meanings. Shannon Coursey, executive vice president of sales and marketing for wine importer Wilson Daniels, uses “terroir-driven” as a key example of a buzzword that can become meaningless. Coursey notes that while the concept is very real, due to lack of definitive regulations around the term, anyone can call their wines as such, regardless of the actual decisions made in both the vineyard and the cellar.“Sustainability should be the most important aspect of wine production today, though as it is currently used, it means less than nothing,” he says. “ a vague commitment to better agriculture or simply a few beehives on a property.” McCarroll believes that producers who are serious about the environment can point generally to more concrete examples of their commitment to bettering the environment. Coursey agrees, nothing that sustainability is increasingly becoming an umbrella term. “If it’s something a consumer cares about, they should dive deeper into what makes a particular wine sustainable,” she says. The same issues ring true for terms like low-sulfur and natural wine. “Low- to no-sulfur winemaking is absolutely the most interesting space in winemaking right now, but it feels like a spectrum,” says McCarroll. Jill Mott, wine director at The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel in New York City, agrees. “I definitely think is the most interesting place in wine right now, however, I've felt that way for 15 years,” she says. Mott expands on the notion of the spectrum of natural and low-sulfur winemaking, stating that sulfur additions — even those on the lower side of things — can vary. Mott says that many conventional winemakers will use little to no sulfur additions on a cuvée or two so as to jump on the “natural wine” bandwagon, though could potentially be implementing other practices that many natural winemakers wouldn’t deem true to the style. “When the word ‘natural’ is thrown around, it can sound incredibly sleazy,” says McCarroll “A lot of people think that natural just means ‘funky’ or ‘weird,’ which, for the record, it does not. The term natural is often lumped together or used interchangeably with words like sustainability or biodynamics, each of which are completely different concepts.Melissa Burr, vice president of winemaking at Stoller Family Estate, says that buzzwords ultimately hold weight when a brand behind the words walks the walk.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wednesday Wine Tasting at Copa Wine BarJoin Copa Wine Bar on July 10 from 5-9 p.m. and imbibe six selections that are perfect for your next BBQ or picnic. All Tasting bottles are 25% off during the event or a special price that night to take home! Reservations are not required to attend however, if you would like to save a seat please call (210) 495-2672.
Read more »
3 Summer Dinner Wine Pairings That’ll Make You Appreciate a Whole New Wine RegionAlexis deBoschnek is a freelance recipe developer, cook, and video host based in the Catskills.
Read more »
Pernod Ricard to sell bulk of wine portfolio to Accolade Wine ownersPernod Ricard to sell bulk of wine portfolio to Accolade Wine owners
Read more »
13 Wine Cocktails That Make Bargain Wine ShineWine cocktails are the best way to use up that bargain bottle of wine that's been sitting in your cupboard. These are our favorite wine cocktails to make with still wines like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Prosecco, Cava, sparkling rosé, Champagne, and more.
Read more »
Beyond Badges And Buzzwords: Replacing Gamification With Real Game Design In HealthcareSam Glassenberg is Founder and CEO of Level Ex, which makes video games to accelerate the adoption of new skills and treatments in medicine. Read Sam Glassenberg's full executive profile here.
Read more »
Benchmark Wine Group Is the Ultimate Authority for Wine Collectors With 25 years of experience and $40 million in annual sales, Benchmark is the gold standard for acquiring the world’s best wines.
Read more »