Wine Glossary - Words that start with N
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Nahe (nah'-huh)
One of the 11 major wine growing areas of Germany and for many, as high a quality as the Mosel, and the Rheingau. A visit to Bad Kreuznach, the wine capital of the region, will not only yield exceptional Rieslings, but you may soak in the therapeutic baths and gamble your nights away in the casino.

Navarre (na-var)
A wine making region in northern Spain, famous for its rose wines.

Nebbiolo (neh-b'yoh'-lo)
The principal grape of the Piedmont region of northern Italy. The wines Barolo, Barberesco, and Gattinara are all made from Nebbiolo. Barolo in particular tends to be hard in youth, and to reward extended aging.

Nebuchadnezzar
The largest of the Champagne bottles. It holds 20 ordinary bottles. They are very impressive, until you try to pour from one.

Negociant (neh-go-see-ahn)
The French word for a trader or merchant. In wine terms it is the merchant who buys the wine in cask, and then bottles, labels and sells it. There is also a growing trend among negociants to buy the grapes and make the wine themselves.

Neuchatel (nuh-shah-tel)
A popular Swiss white wine, made from the Chasselas grape along the shores of Lake Neuchatel.

Nierstein (neer'-sh'tine)
The leading wine village in the Rheinhessen region of Germany.

Noble Rot
A term for Botrytis Cinerea. The special mold that is responsible for many of the world's greatest dessert wines. It creates micro lesions in the skin of the grape, and then removes the water from inside the grape. The result is fruit with a much higher ratio of sugar, suitable for creating sweet wines. The mold can also be harmful when it attacks dry wine vineyards (it is usually called Gray Rot when it is a pest). The French call Botrytis "Pourriture Noble" - the noble rot.

Nouveau (noo-vo)
The French word for "new." It has taken on a new meaning and a life of its own when paired with Beaujolais. Beaujolais Nouveau is shipped in mid-Novemeber, just a few days after the harvest. Using the Carbonic Maceration method, the wine is made much more quickly than by traditional methods, but looses complexity in the process. The new wine becomes a center piece of marketing as cases of it are flown around the world to celebrate its release.

Nuits-Saint-Georges (n'wee san johr'j)
The wine town in Burgundy, France, that lent its name to the Cote de Nuits which starts here and runs north. The town is home to some very good reds wines, and many First Growths (1er Cru), but no Grands Crus.

Nutty
A wine tasting term for a wine that exhibits flavors reminiscent of nuts, especially hazelnut. In some cases this can be a sign that the wine is oxidized. Sherry and Tawny Ports are both very nutty, and very oxidized (hence the brown color).