From Beaujolais to Semillon and Riesling: Sommelier reveals the most commonly mispronounced wines – and you might be surprised
- If you don’t pronounce wine names correctly, you can end up looking foolish
- Some of the more common bungles include Riesling, Semillon and Pinot Gris
- Sommelier Rochelle Godwin outlines the right way to say various wine names
With so many varieties of wine on offer, it’s likely you have been pronouncing a number of them wrong without realising it.
So, to help avoid any embarrassing encounters, Babbel, a language learning app, has worked alongside Australian sommelier Rochelle Goodwin to help create a handy guide.
‘Being a sommelier is as much about teaching people about wine as it is about serving it. Aussies have a great palette and discerning tastes when it comes to wine, but sometimes pronunciations leave a lot to be desired,’ she said.
From Riesling, Semillon to Pinot Gris (along with some you might not know), FEMAIL takes a look at the wines commonly mispronounced – and the correct way to say them.
With endless international wine offerings now available, not only is it tricky to make a choice, but getting the names right can also pose a problem (stock image)
Pinot Gris
Topping the list of most commonly mispronounced names is Australian white wine favourite Pinot Gris.
The top drop, along with its Italian cousin Pinot Grigio, both use the same grape variety, which means they smell and taste virtually the same.
The pronunciation of Pinot Gris is pee – noh – gree while Pinot Grigio is said pee – noh – GREE – jo.
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Tempranillo
Tempranillo is a full-bodied red which hails from the warmer climes Spain.
When young, the wine has fresh and fruity characteristics. With oak and age, tobacco, and leather flavours become more enhanced.
The wine is pronounced tem – prah – NEE – yoh.
Semillon
This dry white originated from grapes grown in vineyards in the French wine-making region of Bordeaux.
It’s understood to be a classic in the sense it’s a great all-rounder and easily pairs with seafood, poultry or Asian style cuisines.
The pronunciation of Semillon is SEM – eh – lon.
Gewürztraminer
This German white wine (born in the Alsace region of France) is a fruity drop, one that is believed to smell identical to lychee fruit.
In Australia, those shopping for the tasty wine might know it better as Traminer.
It’s correctly pronounced geh – VAIRTZ – trah – mee – ner.
‘Aussies have a great palette and discerning tastes when it comes to wine, but sometimes pronunciations leave a lot to be desired,’ said sommellier Rochelle Godwin
Rioja
A Rioja is a red wine which hails from Spain and is understood to have some similarities in flavour to a Cabernet Sauvignon.
This style of wine is separated into four classifications – Rioja, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva – depending on the amount of time the wine spends in oak.
It pairs well with flavoursome dishes including roast pork and is a natural partner with aged cheese. It’s pronounced ree – OH – hah.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is one of the most widely drunk red wines in the world.
As well as being lighter bodied, part of this wine’s appeal may lay in the fact it’s also lower in alcohol which makes it an excellent dinner choice.
To avoid any possible chance of saying this wrongly, pronounce this drop accordingly: boh – jhoe -lay.
Chablis
Wines from Chablis are frequently described as having ‘citrus and floral aromas with, lean, light-bodied flavours of citrus, pear, and salinity’, advises Wine Folly.
And because this wine is almost always fermented in steel tanks, rather than oak, it’s flavour profile tends to be lighter and fruitier.
Pronounce this wine shah – blee.
Riesling
Cellarmasters explains Riesling is a white grape varietal from which white wine is made.
Originally from the famed Rhine region of Germany, Riesling has historically been made as a sweeter wine.
In order to sound as educated as a sommelier, pronounce this wine REESE – ling.
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