Rustic

/RUS-tik/

Simple, rough wine with earthy, unpolished character.

Full Definition

Rustic describes wines with earthy, unpolished, rough-edged character suggesting traditional or peasant winemaking. Can be positive (authentic, characterful, unpretentious) or negative (crude, unrefined). Rustic wines often pair well with hearty, country-style foods. The opposite of polished or refined.

Related Terms

earthy rough traditional

See Also

country wine artisanal

Round Back to Glossary Saignee

More terms starting with R

Racking

Transferring wine off its sediment.

Racy

Wine with vibrant, energetic acidity.

Reduction

Sulfur compounds from lack of oxygen, creating off-odors.

Remuage

Gradually rotating sparkling wine bottles to collect sediment.

Reserve

A designation suggesting higher quality or longer aging.

Residual Sugar

Sugar remaining in wine after fermentation.