Glossary of Wine Terms - M

M

Maderization

Oxydation of some types of wines.

Magnum

A bottle holding 1.5 litres, the equivalent of two regular wine bottles.

Master of Wine

A qualification (not an academic degree) conferred by The Institute of Masters of Wine, which is located in the United Kingdom.

May wine

A light German wine flavored with sweet woodruff in addition to strawberries or other fruit.

Mead

A wine-like alcoholic beverage made of fermented honey and water rather than grape juice.

Meritage

Originally created in California, these blended wines can be summed up as the "American Bordeaux". The term is a blend of the words "merit" and "heritage" and pronounced the same. The Red blend is made from at least 2 of the 5 Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The White Meritage is a blend at least 2 of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Vert, and Semillon.

Methuselah

A large bottle holding six litres, the equivalent of eight regular wine bottles.

Mis en bouteille au château

French for "bottled at the winery", usually in Bordeaux.

Moelleux

French term usually used for wines of mid-level sweetness or liquoreux.

Monopole

French term for an appellation, where all the vineyards in the appellation are under single ownership.

Mousse

The sparkling effervescence of a wine. In the glass it perceived as the bubbling but the surface of the glass can affect this perception. Premium quality sparkling wine has a mousse composed of small, persistent string of bubbles.

Mulled wine

Wine that is spiced, heated, and served as a punch.