Aging

/AY-jing/
🍷Winemaking👃Tasting

The maturation of wine over time in barrel, tank, or bottle.

Full Definition

Aging allows wine to develop complexity through slow chemical reactions. Barrel aging adds oak flavors and allows micro-oxygenation. Bottle aging develops tertiary characteristics like leather, earth, and dried fruit. Not all wines benefit from extended aging; most are made for immediate consumption.

Related Terms

barrel agingbottle agingtertiary

See Also

elevagematurationcellaring
AggressiveBack to GlossaryAlbarino

More terms starting with A

Acetaldehyde

A chemical compound formed during fermentation and oxidation.

Acetic Acid

The acid responsible for vinegar character in wine.

Acidity

The tart, sharp quality in wine from natural grape acids.

Adega

Portuguese term for winery or wine cellar.

Aeration

Exposing wine to air to soften tannins and release aromas.

Alcohol

Ethanol produced during fermentation, expressed as percentage by volume.