From the Wine Bible: “Port comes from only one place in the world, the 70-mile-long demarcated Port region in the Douro river Valley.” In the simplest terms, it is “one part grape spirits to four parts red wine” blended during fermentation. However, there is much more to Port than this most basic definition, and you should go over to Catavino to learn more. It’s Port month there!

A person or company that buys grapes (and, sometimes, even already-made wine) from growers or co-ops. Upon purchase, the negociant blends, bottles, labels and sells the wine under the umbrella of their brand name. This practice appeared in late 18th century France.

Tafelwein: table wine. Kabinett: light, dry, crisp wine. Suss: sweet. Trocken: dry. Auslese: late picked, slightly sweet wines. Beerenauslese (BA): very sweet wines, sometimes (but not always) from noble rot grapes. Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): wine from noble rot grapes that are among the finest in the region — and often less expensive than the German equivalents.

Loam is a soil type that consists of of clay, silt, and sand in relatively equal parts. Loamy soil is ideal for most garden plants because it holds plenty of moisture but also drains well, so that sufficient air can reach the roots. While this is generally good for vine-growing, sometimes rich, loamy soils can encourage excessive growth, particularly in cool to mild climates with large amounts rainfall, making loams less than ideal for viticulture.