GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS
ABV (Alcohol by Volume)
A standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in a beverage. Higher ABV wines may impact blood sugar, liver health, and hormonal balance differently than low ABV options. And different wine styles have different ABVs.
Appellation
A legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown (e.g., Chianti Classico, Sauternes, Salice Salento, Sancerre, Chablis, Rioja, Mosel, etc.). Outside Europe, some wine regions have their own modern versions of this. The USA has AVAs, for example, or, American Viticultural Areas.
Biodynamic Wine
Wine made using biodynamic agricultural principles, including lunar cycles and natural composts, as developed by Rudolf Steiner — and most indigenous peoples before him!
Carnivore Diet
A zero-carb, animal-based diet that excludes plant foods entirely. Alcohol consumption is typically minimised or eliminated.
Clarifying Agents
Used to make wine appear bright and clear. May include bentonite clay, egg whites, or fish bladders.
Colour Stabilisers
Additives like MegaPurple used to standardize color in mass-market wines.
Dry-Farmed Wine
Wine made from grapes grown without irrigation, relying solely on natural rainfall (but normal to irrigate new or young vines). Often associated with better terroir expression, sustainability, and higher nutrient density.
Fining and Filtration
Processes used to clarify wine by removing solids and particles. Some agents used (like isinglass or egg whites) may make a wine unsuitable for vegans.
Flavour Enhancers
Substances added to replicate or enhance specific wine characteristics, often found in ultra-processed wines.
Glycemic Load
A measure of how much a food or drink raises blood glucose levels. Dry wines typically have a low glycemic load.
Greenwashing
When a wine brand or producer falsely markets their product as eco-friendly or sustainable without meaningful practices to back it up.
Insulin Resistance
A condition in which cells respond poorly to insulin, often influenced by diet and alcohol consumption. Wine’s sugar content and ABV can affect insulin response.
Keto Diet
A low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet designed to put the body into a state of ketosis, where fat is used as the primary energy source.
Ketosis
A metabolic state in which the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates, producing ketones.
Low-Intervention Wine
A broader category than natural wine, this refers to wine made with minimal manipulation during production, but not necessarily fully additive-free.
Natural Wine
Minimally intervened wine typically made with native yeasts, no additives (other than minimal sulphur), and no filtration or fining. Often overlaps with organic and biodynamic practices.
Native Yeasts
Naturally occurring wild yeasts on the grape skins and in the winery environment, used in fermentation rather than commercial cultured yeasts.
Oenology
The science of wine and winemaking.
Organic Wine
Wine made from organically grown grapes without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. Certification requirements vary by country.
Polyphenols
Micronutrients with antioxidant properties, including resveratrol, flavonoids, and tannins. Associated with many of wine’s purported health benefits.
Residual Sugar (RS)
The amount of sugar left in the wine after fermentation, typically measured in grams per litre. Important for those tracking carbohydrate intake.
Sulphites / Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)
Used as a preservative to stabilise and prevent spoilage in wine. Can cause reactions in sensitive individuals.
Tannins
Naturally occurring polyphenols found in grape skins, seeds, and stems that provide structure and mouthfeel. Also offer antioxidant benefits.
Terroir
A French term referring to the unique environmental factors (soil, climate, elevation) that influence the characteristics of a wine: Wines of “place”.
Ultra-Processed Wines™
A term I use to describe industrial wines that have undergone excessive processing and that contain numerous additives, akin to ultra-processed foods. They should be distinguished clearly from organic/natural/traditional wines (minimal or non-interventionist) and what I can only call "good, normal, in-between wines" (those made with moderate intervention and integrity, but not necessarily certified organic or natural).
Viticulture
The science and practice of grape growing for winemaking.
SOURCES
Cristobal Toral (2025). The Premium Surge: U.S. Wine Buyers Are Trading Up — Are You Ready? Available at: https://cristobaltoral.us/en/the-premium-surge-u-s-wine-buyers-are-trading-up-are-you-ready (Accessed: 17 August 2025).
IWSR (2025). Five Key Trends Defining Opportunities in the Global Wine Market in 2025. Available at: https://www.theiwsr.com/insight/five-key-trends-defining-opportunities-in-the-global-wine-market-in-2025 (Accessed: 17 August 2025).
SVB (Silicon Valley Bank) (2025). State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report 2025. Available at: https://www.svb.com/globalassets/library/uploadedfiles/wine/svb-state-of-the-us-wine-industry-report-2025.pdf (Accessed: 17 August 2025).
The Australian (2025). Strong Sales for Penfolds Has Helped Treasury Wine Estates. Available at: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/strong-sales-for-penfolds-has-helped-treasury-wine-estates/news-story/ab634df9af0abbb530787d0c1a2f1536 (Accessed: 17 August 2025).
The Drinks Business (2025). US Wine Trends 2025: Premiumisation Dominates as Volume Drops. Available at: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/08/us-wine-trends-2025-premiumisation-dominates-as-volume-drops (Accessed: 17 August 2025).
The Guardian (2025). The Guardian View on France's Wine Crisis: The Answer to Claret Could Be Clairet. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/15/the-guardian-view-on-frances-wine-crisis-the-answer-to-claret-could-be-clairet (Accessed: 17 August 2025).
Vinetur (2025). French Wine Production Falls to Lowest Level Since 1950s. Available at: https://www.vinetur.com/en/2025060488346/french-wine-production-falls-to-lowest-level-since-1950s.html (Accessed: 17 August 2025).
BIO Web of Conferences (OIV 2022 conference report). (2023). The health effects of wine: The case of longevity in Sardinia. BIO Web of Conferences, 40, 04004.
Bell, S., Daskalopoulou, M., Rapsomaniki, E., George, J., Britton, A., Hemingway, H., & Batty, G. D. (2017). Association between clinically recorded alcohol consumption and initial presentation of 12 cardiovascular diseases: Population based cohort study using linked health records. BMJ, 356, j909. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j909
Boffetta, P., & Hashibe, M. (2006). Alcohol and cancer. The Lancet Oncology, 7(2), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(06)70577-0
Bonfiglio, C., Campanella, A., Cuccaro, F., Donghia, R., Tatoli, R., & Giannelli, G. (2022). Moderate wine consumption and health: A narrative review. Nutrients, 15(1), 175.
Buettner, D., & Skemp, S. (2016). Lessons from the Blue Zones: There is no silver bullet (or magic pill) for a long, healthy life. International Journal of Wellbeing.
Di Castelnuovo, A., Costanzo, S., Bagnardi, V., Donati, M. B., Iacoviello, L., & de Gaetano, G. (2006). Alcohol dosing and total mortality in men and women: An updated meta-analysis of 34 prospective studies. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(22), 2437–2445. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.22.2437
European Code Against Cancer & IARC (2018). Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: A Global Perspective.
Fagherazzi, G., et al. (E3N‑EPIC cohort). Wine consumption and postmenopausal breast cancer risk, with a 33% increased risk >2 glasses daily PMC.
Fagherazzi, G., et al. (French E3N‑EPIC cohort). Alcohol intake and breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Garrido, M., & Borges, F. (2013). Wine and cardiovascular health: A review. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 20(30), 3940–3960. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867311320300005
Giacosa, A., Barale, R., Bavaresco, L., Gatenby, P., Gerbi, V., Janssens, J., … Rondanelli, M. (2013). Mediterranean diet and cancer prevention in Europe: the contribution of moderate wine consumption. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 22(1), 90–95.
Godos, J., Ferri, R., Di Benedetto, L., Ciurleo, R., Galvano, F., Caraci, F., & Grosso, G. (2020). Effects of polyphenol-rich foods on human health. Nutrients, 12(1), 218. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010218
González-Sarrías, A., Romo-Vaquero, M., García-Villalba, R., Cortés-Martín, A., Selma, M. V., Espín, J. C., & Tomás-Barberán, F. A. (2018). Moderate consumption of red wine can modulate human intestinal inflammatory response. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 66(29), 7272–7280. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b01583
Holmes, M. V., et al. (2014). Mendelian randomization studies on alcohol and cardiovascular disease risk. Addiction.
Holmes, M. V., et al. (2014). Mendelian randomization: Alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease risk. Addiction.
Kubo, J., et al. (Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, Nurses’ Health Study cohorts). Alcohol and skin cancer risk.
Light, K. C., Grewen, K. M., & Amico, J. A. (2005). More frequent partner hugs and higher oxytocin levels are linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate in premenopausal women. Biological Psychology, 69(1), 5–21. (Linked to alcohol in social contexts). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2004.11.002
Mateos, Y., & Estruch, R. (2016). Wine, polyphenols, and Mediterranean diets. Antioxidants, 9(2), 14.
Minzer, S., Estruch, R., & Casas, R. (2020). Wine intake in the framework of a Mediterranean diet and chronic non-communicable diseases: A short literature review of the last 5 years. Molecules, 25(21), 5045.
Morvaridzadeh, M., Daneshzad, E., Budhathoki, S., & Alizadeh, S. (2020). Effect of grape products containing polyphenols on C-reactive protein levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. British Journal of Nutrition, 124(1), 1–9.
Mukamal, K. J., Conigrave, K. M., Mittleman, M. A., Camargo, C. A., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C., & Rimm, E. B. (2003). Roles of drinking pattern and type of alcohol consumed in coronary heart disease in men. New England Journal of Medicine, 348(2), 109–118. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa022095
Pan, M. H., Lai, C. S., & Ho, C. T. (2010). Anti-inflammatory activity of natural dietary flavonoids. Food & Function, 1(1), 15–31. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0fo00103a
Pavlidou, E., Mantzorou, M., Fasoulas, A., Tryfonos, C., Petridis, D., & Giaginis, C. (2018). Wine: An aspiring agent in promoting longevity and preventing chronic diseases. Diseases, 6(3), 73.
Peele, S., & Brodsky, A. (2000). Exploring psychological benefits associated with moderate alcohol use: A necessary corrective to assessments of drinking outcomes? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 60(3), 221–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-8716(00)00111-7
Platz, E. A., Giovannucci, E. L., Devesa, S., & Franco, E. (2022). Alcohol use and the risk of breast cancer: A critical review. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Platz, E. A., et al. (2016). White wine linked to higher risk of melanoma: Prospective studies from Harvard and Brown (Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention).
Platz, E. A., et al. (2022). Alcohol and breast cancer: A critical review. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Rasul, S., & Foss, M. (2010). Alcohol consumption and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease: Meta-analysis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Rehm, J., Baliunas, D., Borges, G. L. G., Graham, K., Irving, H., Kehoe, T., ... & Taylor, B. (2010). The relation between different dimensions of alcohol consumption and burden of disease: An overview. Addiction, 105(5), 817–843. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.02899.x
Reuter, S., Gupta, S. C., Chaturvedi, M. M., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2010). Oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer: How are they linked? Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 49(11), 1603–1616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.09.006
Rimm, E. B., Williams, P., Fosher, K., Criqui, M., & Stampfer, M. J. (1999). Moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease: Meta-analysis of effects on lipids and haemostatic factors. BMJ, 319(7224), 1523–1528. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.319.7224.1523
Ronksley, P. E., Brien, S. E., Turner, B. J., Mukamal, K. J., & Ghali, W. A. (2011). Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 342, d671. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d671
Sarikaya, A. C., et al. (2019). A comparison of gender-linked population cancer risks between alcohol and tobacco: 'Cigarette-equivalent' model. BMC Public Health, 19, 316.
Sarikaya, A. C., et al. (2019). Cigarette‑equivalent cancer risk of moderate wine consumption. BMC Public Health, 19, 316.
Stampfer, M. J., Kang, J. H., Chen, J., Cherry, R., & Grodstein, F. (2005). Effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cognitive function in women. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(3), 245–253. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa041152
Vitaglione, P., Sforza, S., Galaverna, G., Ghidini, C., Caporaso, N., & Fogliano, V. (2005). Bioavailability of trans-resveratrol from red wine in humans. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 49(5), 495–504. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.200400087
Wojtowicz, A. M., et al. (2023). Moderate red wine consumption: Systematic review of long‑term outcomes. PubMed.
de Gaetano, G., & Di Castelnuovo, A. (2011). Alcohol and health: All beverages are not the same. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 21(11), 856–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2011.07.004
Chiva-Blanch, G., Urpi-Sarda, M., Ros, E., Arranz, S., Valderas-Martínez, P., Casas, R., Sacanella, E., Llorach, R., Lamuela-Raventos, R. M., Andres-Lacueva, C., & Estruch, R. (2020). Effects of red wine and gin moderate consumption on cardiovascular risk factors: A randomized crossover trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), 5302. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155302
Cordova, A. C., Jackson, L. S., Berke-Schlessel, D., Sumpio, B. E., & Sumpio, B. J. (2004). The cardiovascular protective effect of red wine. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 15(11), 726–732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2004.06.004
Healthline. (2023, July 17). Red wine and weight loss: Is there a connection? Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/red-wine-and-weight-loss
Zhang, Y., Li, X., Chen, Y., & Zhao, L. (2024). Wine consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaf078
Lefèvre, A. F., DeCarli, L. M., Lieber, C. S., & Barness, L. A. (1970). Effect of ethanol on ketosis in man. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 49(3), 497–507. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106255
Wiers, C. E., Stelzer, F., Hodgkinson, C., Schwandt, M. L., Sun, H., Frankle, W. G., Yuan, J., Anderson, A. M., Goldman, D., Wang, G.-J., & Volkow, N. D. (2024). A ketogenic diet reduces alcohol cue reactivity in individuals undergoing alcohol detoxification. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1254341. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1254341
Hudec, O., et al. (2024). Differences in Wine Purchasing Preferences of Generation Z Consumers in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Econstor. https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306191/1/1906646767.pdf
IWSR. (2025, June). Gen Z Not the Generation of Moderation: Survey Reveals. IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. https://www.theiwsr.com/insight/press-release/gen-z-not-the-generation-of-moderation-survey-reveals/
IWSR. (2025). Radius Innovation Trend Radar: How Wine Is Adapting to Gen Z Preferences. IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. https://www.theiwsr.com/insight/radius-innovation-trend-radar-how-wine-is-adapting-to-gen-z-preferences/
RaboBank via Wine Enthusiast. (2024, February). Why Gen Z Is Drinking Less. Wine Enthusiast. https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/why-gen-z-is-drinking-less/
Sonoma State University. (2020, March 5). Generational Cohort Theory and Wine: Analyzing How Gen Z Differs from Other American Wine Consumers. Sonoma State University, Wine Business Institute. https://business.sonoma.edu/articles/generational-cohort-theory-and-wine-analyzing-how-gen-z-differs-other-american-wine
Wine Paris & Vinexpo via Wine Intelligence. (2024, January 25). Mind the Gap: The Growing Generational Divide in UK Wine Drinking. IWSC. https://iwsc.net/news/iwsc/insight-report-mind-the-gap
Wine Enthusiast. (2024, September). Gen Z Wine Drinking Trends. Wine Enthusiast. https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/gen-z-wine-drinking-trends/
International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). (2024, April). State of the World Vine and Wine Sector in 2023. OIV. https://www.oiv.int/sites/default/files/2024-04/OIV_STATE_OF_THE_WORLD_VINE_AND_WINE_SECTOR_IN_2023.pdf
International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). (2025, April). State of the World Vine and Wine Sector in 2024. OIV. https://www.oiv.int/sites/default/files/2025-04/OIV-State_of_the_World_Vine-and-Wine-Sector-in-2024.pdf
Le Monde. (2024, April 26). Global Wine Consumption Continues to Decline in 2023. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/04/26/global-wine-consumption-continues-to-decline-in-2023_6669561_19.html
Vinétur. (2025, April 15). Global Wine Production and Consumption Hit Lowest Levels in Decades Amid Climate and Economic Pressures. Vinétur. https://www.vinetur.com/en/2025041586750/global-wine-production-and-consumption-hit-lowest-levels-in-decades-amid-climate-and-economic-pressures.html
