It can be confusing, but our wine glossary takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect wine.

Acidity: Indicates the quality of tartness or 'bite', including the presence of agreeable fruit acids.

Aroma: The smell of wine derived from the grape. Aroma and bouquet are often used synonymously.

Aromatic: Strongly perfumed - riesling and sauvignon blanc, for example.

Balance: The harmonious union of different elements, especially acid, tannin, alcohol and fruit sweetness.

Body: The weight-feel of a wine in the mouth; body depends on alcohol, sweetness and way the wine was made.

Botrytis: The smell and taste of wines made from grapes influenced by a mould which concentrates their sugars.

Bouquet: The smell of wine which comes from its fermentation and maturation. Aroma and bouquet are often used synonymously.

Buttery: Smell, taste and colour acquired by some wines depending on grape variety, maturity and winemaking techniques.

Clean: Free from off-odours and off-flavours

Cloying: Too sweet for the acidity.

Complex: A combination of the harmonious attributes that make a wine interesting.

Corked: The 'mouldy' smell and taste in some wine due to a defective cork.

Dry: Absence of sugar - the opposite of sweet.

Finish: The impression a wine leaves at the end of the tasting process.

Flowery: Floral scents contributed by certain aromatic grape varieties.

Fresh: Appealing due to its youth and acidity.

Fruity: Pleasant aromatic taste of a wine with strong varietal character.

Green: Young wine with too much acidity.

Hard: Wine with too much tannin.

Herbaceous: A vegetative smell of grass and leaves, found in some cool climate wines.

Length: A long aftertaste of flavour - a sign of quality.

Lively: A wine that seems to be bursting with fruit and flavour.

Nose: A wine's aroma or bouquet.

Oxidised: A wine exposed to air for too long becomes stale and flat.

Pungent: Very aromatic - often earthy.

Rich: Luscious and full-bodied, but not necessarily sweet.

Soft: A wine without hard or aggressive tannins.

Still: Not sparkling.

Varietal: A varietal wine is named after the predominant grape variety from which it is made.

Velvety: Texture description.

Yeasty: Smell of fermenting yeasts, like freshly baked bread.