Deep Complex, with layers of flavor that gradually unfold with aeration.
DELAWARE A native American hybrid grape variety .Widely grown in the Eastern United States. Used to make dry, sweet and sparkling white wines of good quality with a hint of foxiness. Also used to make a popular ice-wine.
Delicate Having a light aroma, flavor and body.
Developed Having reached full potential for drinkability through aging.
DIMIAT A white-wine grape widely grown in Bulgaria. Used mainly to produce sweet wines that are drunk young.
DINKA A white-wine grape widely grown in Hungary.
Distinctive Notable, with a refined character.
DOLCETTO A red-wine grape widely grown in the Piedmont region of Italy. Primarily used for making fast maturing, fruity and robust dark reds with a faintly bitter flavor. Possibly identical with the Douce Noir grape of the Savoie region of France and the California varietal known as Charbono.
DORNFELDER A recent hybrid red-wine grape primarily grown in the Rheinhessen and Pfalz regions, but gaining popularity throughout Germany. Created from a complex crossing of most major red wine varieties of Central Europe, it promises good aging potential.
DOUCE NOIR See Charbono and Dolcetto.
Dry Leaving a slightly sharp, but not bitter, sensation on the palate; the opposite of sweet.
Dull Lacking in character and acidity.
Dumb See Closed.
DURAS A minor red-wine grape grown in the area southeast of the Bordeaux region of France. Used to create red and rosé blends, with Negrette, Syrah and Gamay Noir.
DURIF A minor red-wine grape from France once erroneously thought to be the parent variety of the Petite Sirah grape varietal extensively planted in California.
DUTCHESS A native American hybrid grape primarily grown in the Eastern United States. Used to make fruity, sweet white wines with mild foxiness.
E
EARLY BURGUNDY See Abourion.
Earthy Smelling or tasting like dirt, or earth. A slight earthiness can be appealing; too much is coarse.
EHRENFELSER A Riesling-Sylvaner clone hybrid white-wine grape developed for its frost-resistance, and primarily grown in the Okanagan region of western Canada. Less acidic than the Muller-Thurgau grape, the popular Riesling clone of Germany.
ELBLING An ancient white-wine grape grown in limited areas of the Mosel-Saar-Ruhr region of Germany. Used to produce a dry, sparkling wine. Also called Weisser Silvaner
