Glossary
Chai
/SHAY/
French term for an above-ground wine storage building.
Full Definition
A chai is a Bordeaux term for an above-ground building where wine is stored in barrels, as opposed to underground caves. The high water table in much of Bordeaux makes underground cellars impractical. The chai master (maitre de chai) oversees barrel aging and winemaking.
Related Terms
See Also
Reference
More terms starting with C
Canopy Management
Techniques to control vine leaf and shoot growth.
Capsule
The foil or plastic covering over a wine bottle's cork.
Carbonic Maceration
Whole-grape fermentation in CO2, producing fruity wines.
Cava
Spanish sparkling wine made by traditional method.
Cellaring
Storing wine under proper conditions for aging.
Champagne
Sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France.