Body (also fullness, backbone, substance) refers to the alcohol content and the overall extract of a wine in the context of a wine approach. The term structure is to be understood even more comprehensively. Similar terms are character and texture. However, the term "body" alone, without adjectives, does not say anything about the balance of the two components or the quality of the wine. A full-bodied wine has a high alcohol content (from at least about 12% vol.) and a large proportion of aromatic substances or total extract. This is also described with the terms "backbone", "full-bodied", "powerful" or "plump". Related terms are balanced, extract-rich, powerful, heavy, vinous and bulky. A negative, inharmonious expression is fattening; a wine with too little body is thin, hollow and watery. On the other hand, slender is a positive paraphrase for a less full-bodied wine.
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Dominik Trick
Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg