Glossary
Continental Climate
/kon-tih-NEN-tul KLY-mit/
Climate with hot summers, cold winters, and large temperature swings.
Full Definition
Continental climate features hot summers, cold winters, and significant diurnal temperature variation. Wine regions include Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace, and parts of Oregon and Washington. The temperature swings help develop flavor complexity while retaining acidity. Continental regions face frost risk and vintage variation.
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.
Chai
French term for an above-ground wine storage building.