VA
Short for viticultural area or volatile acidity.
Vat
A large vessel where wine is fermented or aged.
Varietal
A grape variety. Varietal wines are made from a single named grape variety.
VC
Spanish abbreviation for vino comarcal, equivalent to the French vin de pays.
VDL
Short for vin de liqueur, a French term for a wine that is fortified before fermentation.
VDLT
Short for vino de la tierra, a Spanish wine quality indicator one rung below DO.
VDN
French abbreviation for vin doux naturel, indicating a fortified wine.
VDQS
French abbreviation for Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure, a quality level above vin de pays but below Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC).
VDT
Italian abbreviation for vino da tavola, table wine.
Vecchio
Italian word for old.
Vegan wine
Wine made without using any animal products. Non-vegan wines often using animal-derived finings.
Vegetal
Wine tasting term indicating plant-like aromas and flavours.
Velvety
Wine tasting term indicating a soft, smooth mouth feel.
Vendange
French word for grape harvest.
Vendangé à la main
French phrase meaning the grapes are harvested by hand.
Vendange tardive
French phrase meaning a late harvest.
Vendemmia, Vendimia
Italian and Spanish terms for grape harvest.
Veneto
Wine region in northern Italy which produces Amarone, Soave, Valpolicella and the sparkling Prosecco.
Verband Deutscher Prädikats und Qualitätsweingüter (VDP)
German wine organisation which administers quality standards.
Vermouth
A flavoured, fortified wine which can be served on its own or as part of a cocktail, such as the Dry Martini.
Veraison
The start of ripening, when grapes begin to change colour and gain sweetness.
Vertical tasting
A wine tasting where different vintages are compared.
Vibrant
Wine tasting term indicating a wine combining freshness and richness.
Vieilles Vignes
French for old vines. Does not have any regulated meaning.
Viejo
Spanish word for old.
Vigna, Vigneto
Italian words for a vineyard.
Vigneron
French word for a wine grower.
Vigniaiolo
Italian word for a wine grower.
Vignoble
French word for a vineyard.
Vin
French for wine.
Viña
Spanish word for vines.
Vin de garde
French phrase for a wine that will improve with age.
Vin de glace
French term for ice wine.
Vin de paille
French phrase for wine made from dried grapes.
Vin de pays
French term for country wine, a step up in quality from vin de table.
Vin de table
French for table wine
Vin doux Naturel
French term for a fortified wine.
Viñedo, Vinha
Spanish and Portuguese for vineyard
Vinho
Portuguese for wine.
Vinho regional
Portuguese wine classification, similar to the French vin de pays.
Vinification
Wine-making.
Vinology
The science of wine and wine-making.
Vin ordinaire
French term for ordinary wine.
Vino
Italian for wine.
Vino de la tierra
Spanish wine quality indicator one rung below DO. It is the Spanish equivalent of the French vin de pays.
Vino de mesa, Vino da tavola
Spanish and Italian phrases meaning table wine.
Vino generoso
Spanish term for a fortified wine.
Vino novello
Italian term for a young wine intended for immediate drinking.
Vinous
Resembling or relating to wine.
Vin Santo
Italian holy wine, made from dried grapes.
Vintage
Vintage wines are made from grapes grown and harvested in a specific single year.
Viognier
Light-skinned grape grown all over the world which makes aromatic white wines.
Violets
Wine tasting term indicating a floral aroma.
Viscous
Viscosity is the thickness of a liquid. Viscous wines are thick and full-bodied.
Viticoltore
Italian word for a grape grower.
Viticulture
The cultivation of grapes.
Vitigno
Italian word for grape variety.
Vitis vinifra
Latin name for the European vine which produces wine grapes.
Vivace
Italian word for lively, denoting a slightly sparkling wine.
Volatile acidity
Acids in wine that create aromas, often of vinegar or nail polish remover.
Volcanic soil
Stony soil in areas which were once subject to volcanic activity. Volcanic soil is well suited to growing high-quality wine grapes.
