There are a lot of weird wine terms out there that can make wine very confusing. But don’t worry, wine doesn’t have to be hard! Wine Terms Explained unpacks these weird wine terms so you can get back to enjoying wine. A term that is used quite frequently is big. But what is a big wine? And how do you find it in your glass? Let’s unpack it!
What is a big wine?
You may have heard a wine being described as big before, but this is not about how large the bottle is. So what does it mean?
This wine term is not a flavour or texture but a sensation caused by other factors. It usually refers to body or mouthfeel, and these wines usually take up all sections of your mouth and tongue. This doesn’t mean the wine is necessarily fruit-forward, as it can also have high levels of tannins or alcohol. But think of it as leaving an impression of thickness in the mouth.
Where do you find it?
So now that you know what it is, where will you find it? Well, it depends. But it is mostly used to describe red wines. Typically, these wines are full-bodied, high alcohol and or highly tannic wines. This means you’re more likely to find these styles in red grape varieties that produce fuller-bodied wines, such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. But again, this depends on the style of the wine. If it is from a cooler climate or the winemaker chooses to make the wine softer, it won’t be as full-bodied and robust.
As a result, this is one of those wine terms that you have to find in the wine glass, rather than there being a hard rule about it! So if you love wines that are robust and full-bodied, this might be a wine term to check out for yourself!