Glossary

Diurnal Range

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The difference between day and night temperatures.

Viticulture

Full Definition

Diurnal range (or diurnal shift) is the temperature difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows. Large diurnal ranges (common in high altitude or continental climates) help grapes develop flavor complexity while retaining acidity, as cool nights slow respiration and preserve acids. Regions like Mendoza and Walla Walla are noted for this.

Related Terms

microclimatealtitudecontinental

See Also

terroirripening
DisgorgementBack to GlossaryDO

Reference

More terms starting with D

Decanting

Pouring wine into another vessel for aeration or sediment removal.

Delestage

Rack-and-return technique for gentle extraction.

Demi-Sec

Medium-sweet sparkling wine.

Density

In tasting, the concentration of a wine; in viticulture, vine spacing.

Depth

Layers of flavor that reveal themselves over time.

Disgorgement

Removing sediment from sparkling wine after secondary fermentation.