sec
[SEHK]
This French word literally means “DRY,” which in the wine world means “not sweet.” When used to describe STILL (nonSPARKLING) wines, sec indicates that the wine has little if any RESIDUAL SUGAR left after FERMENTATION. In sparkling wines like CHAMPAGNE, however, the word takes on quite another meaning: sec indicates a relatively sweet wine, whereas DEMI-SEC is even sweeter. Drier sparkling wines are referred to as BRUT and the very driest as Extra Brut or Brut Nature.
Related Links:
demi-sec,
assemblage,
malolactic fermentation,
tirage
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.
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