Wine can range from light-bodied (feels more like water in the mouth) to full-bodied (feels thicker, more like milk). See also: Mouthfeel.

The traditional shape of wine bottles, with high straight sides and a short taper to a thin neck. 750 mL Bordeaux bottles will fit into all standard wine racks. See also: Standard bottle.

While “wine” refers to any alcoholic beverage made from grapes or other fruits anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, “Champagne” is a sparkling wine made using the finest red and white grape varieties in the Champagne region of France.

A shape similar to the Burgundy bottle, but with thicker walls to contain the higher pressures. Champagne bottles may not fit into some standard wine racks.

This refers to a bottle of wine that is tainted due to damage, drying or microbial action in the cork. The condition is usually noticeable by smell, color or taste of the wine and is also known as cork taint. Some causes of corked bottles are avoidable by storing wine properly, but at other times the condition is not preventable.

Wine with additional alcohol added, often in the form of spirits like brandy. Examples include port, sherry and vermouth.

A relative humidity of around 70% is ideal for aging wine. A too-humid environment will cause mold to form on the cork, possibly contaminating the wine. Not enough humidity, and the cork will dry out and crack. A too-dry environment will also cause wine to rapidly evaporate from the bottle, creating a vacuum that sucks in oxygen-rich air. Any of these conditions will result in a bottle that is "corked"--tainted due to cork failure. Humidity can be added using an integrated humidifier such as that available in CellarPro cooling systems, a separate humidifier such as the Wine Guardian through the wall humidifier or with decorative humidifier fountains.

Insulation is important to wine cellars and wine cabinets. Made of materials that resist the transfer of heat, insulation keeps your cold things cold and your warm things warm. Heavy-duty insulation may be required in wine cellars to maintain proper temperatures. Skimping on the insulation phase will lead to overworked and inefficient cooling systems. Money spent on insulation is money saved down the line. Foam board insulation is commonly used in wine cellar construction.

A large format bottle size, holding about 1.5 liters, or twice the size of a standard bottle. May require special magnum racking. A wine bottle of twice the standard size, normally 1 1/2 liters.

Meritage is a name for red and white Bordeaux -style wines without infringing on the Bordeaux (France) region's legally protected designation of origin. Winemakers must license the Meritage trademark from its owner, the California-based Meritage Alliance. Member wineries are found principally in the United States, though increasingly elsewhere.

Refers to how a wine feels in the mouth, from light and crisp to heavy and thick. See also: Body.

The process of bubble formation when pressure is released, as seen in Champagne and sparkling wines. This happens more readily on some surfaces, leading glassmakers like Riedel to laser-etch their Champagne glasses to encourage nucleation.