In Wine Terms Explained, we explore the weird and wonderful world of wine. There are so many descriptors for wine, it is not only hard to keep track, but it also makes it so hard to understand. By unpacking these weird wine terms, we can understand what they mean for what’s in our glass, and get back to enjoying wine. This week we look into Steely and answer: What is a steely wine?
You may or may not have heard this wine term used when tasting wine. But what does it actually mean for a wine to be Steely, and is it a good thing? Let’s dive into this weird wine term and work it out!
What is a Steely Wine?
Steely is used to describe a wine with a lot of acidity with a very dry taste. They don’t usually have a rich, fruity flavour, instead having flavours of sour fruits such as green apples or pears and some florals. These wines can feel like they have a hard edge in the mouth without sweetness. Some can even have a metallic flavour, or more of a minerality.
It is not quite known what contributes to a steely wine. It could be flavours from the soil, or an effect created by a clean or neutral wine without sweetness or strong flavours. This term is also sometimes connected to wines aged in vats rather than oak.
Overall, a steely wine is usually white with prominent acidity, often with low alcohol, light-bodied and young. Is this creating a bit of a picture for you of something you’ve tried before?
Where will you find it?
Steely wines are normally white wines with a lot of acidity. Examples include:
- Cool Climate wines like Riesling from Germany, Alsace, Austria or the Eden Valley in Australia
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Grüner Veltliner
- Chardonnay that is unoaked, particularly Chablis from Burgundy
- Pinot Gris
- Semillon that is unoaked and unaged
Is Steely Wine good?
So now you’re wondering if a steely wine is a good thing? Well, as with most wine terms, it comes down to personal preference. Steely wines are those that are perceived to be harsh in acidity. If this is something you enjoy in your wine, you will enjoy them. If not, then perhaps look to avoid them.
This wine term doesn’t mean the wine is out of balance. These wines can cleanse the palate and also balance out foods with a high fat content. It also leads to a sharper mouth feel, which is far better than having a flabby wine!
Whether you enjoy highly acidic wines or not, I hope this Wine Terms Explained has helped you understand wine just a little bit more. And now the next time you hear someone call a wine steely, you’ll know whether you’re going to like it or not!