A Wine's Middle

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and today I want to answer a question. A listener wrote to ask “What do wine tasters mean when using the term middle while describing the wine?” 

The term middle is often used by wine tasters and writers when describing a wine. In the context in which the word “middle” is used, it is in reference to the mid palate of the taster. They are describing literally what their impression of the wine is when they are in the middle of the taste. While they hold it in the middle of their mouth they focus upon their impressions of the wine. As they determine what these impressions are, they will describe them as the middle of the wine. Very often the texture or body of the wine is described at this point. If in contrast the taster were discussing the wine in the back of their palate or as they are swallowing it and how long it lingered, they would refer to that as the finish and the length of the finish. So literally, middle is describing the middle of your palate and the middle of the taste. Try focusing on how your impression of the wine changes as it crosses over your tongue and through your mouth, concentrate on the middle. You will begin to recognize and understand what the professionals are talking about when they say middle. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today’s Vine to Wine.