1. Fortified Wine - A wine that is given a higher alcohol content with distilled grape additives. Port and Sherry are examples of fortified wines commonly found on the market.



2. Wine Bottle Size ? Historically, wine bottle sizes were all over the place. Today, they hold a fairly standard 750 milliliters of wine. In a restaurant, this is enough to file five to six glasses of wine per bottle.

3. Classic White Grapes ? Although there are plenty of grape variations, there are only 5 classic white grapes. They are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Semillon.

4. Wine Integration ? The balancing of the factors that go into a wine. Integration refers to balance between things such as the acidity, tannin and so on. When one does not stand out, the wine is considered balanced and to have good integration.

5. Wine Reserve ? The term reserve is often understood to mean that a wine has been aged longer than normal and thus is of a higher quality. This understanding is not always accurate, so don't fall for it when buying.

6. Tannin and Vino ? Tannin comes from the skin of grapes. It adds to the sharpness of the wine, particularly red wines. Too much tannin can render a wine overpowering, while to little can render it bland.

7. Wine Cork Presentation ? A massive area of confusion. When a waiter presents you with the cork, you should determine only whether the cork is in good condition. Disfigured corks mean air has penetrated the bottle during storage.

8. Fat in Wine ? As we grow more health conscious, many wonder if wine is fattening. Well, there is no fat in wine, but calories are there as always. An average glass contains just over 100 calories, about the same as a glass of grape juice.

9. What Does MW Mean? ? MW refers to a person that is uniquely accredited in relation to wine. They are a ?Master of Wine? and a good person to listen to on just about any wine subject.

10. California Reds ? Zinfandel was the most popular red grape planted in California for hundreds of years. In 1998, Cabernet Sauvignon passed it.

The first rule of wine is not one you will read many places. Simply put, it is not to be intimidated. Just jump into it and learn as you go. You'll have a great time.