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ALDI EXPERT REVEALS THE MEANING BEHIND WINE AISLE JARGON

20 April, 2026

• Wine expert explains five common terms so shoppers can feel confident in the wine aisle
• The guide lands as Aldi’s new Spring Summer wine range launches on shelves

Wine jargon can often feel like another language, with terms like ‘terroir’, ‘tannin’ and ‘body’ making it difficult to know if a bottle is the right choice for a weekday dinner, date night or special occasion.

But Aldi and its resident wine expert, Sam Caporn, are translating the lingo. The Mistress of Wine is breaking down five common buzzwords to give shoppers the confidence to pick the perfect bottle every time.

Sam Caporn says: “Wine labels can contain plenty of clues about what’s inside the bottle. Once you understand a few key terms, it becomes much easier to spot the styles you enjoy.”

1. Decoding ‘body’

Descriptions on the back of bottles often mention the wine’s body. It’s simply to describe how thin (light bodied) or heavy (full bodied) the wine feels in the mouth.

A light-bodied wine is perfect if you’re looking for a refreshing, crisp wine – they’re ideal for warm weather and lighter meals like salads, seafood and white meat.  Whereas a fuller bodied wine will offer a rich, intense wine that can be paired with hearty meals, barbecues and red meat.  

“A good way to think about body is to compare it to milk” says Sam. “Light-bodied wines are like skimmed milk, think of medium-bodied bottles as semi-skimmed and fuller styles are more like full fat, richer and more intense.”

Sam’s picks to help understand the difference in body:

• Aldi’s Specially Selected Picpoul de Pinet (£7.99, 75cl) is a crisp, light-bodied white, typically showing bright citrus and green apple notes – a perfect summer-sipping wine

• Aldi’s Specially Selected Salice Salentino (£7.69, 75cl) isa full-bodied red style, complemented by a smooth, rounded finish

2. Tackling ‘tannin’

Don’t be put off by the word ‘tannin’ on red wine bottles, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Sam says, “It simply refers to a specific texture or feeling, think a drying sensation on the side of the mouth, a bit like when you drink strong tea.”

High-tannin wines are more structural and fuller bodied, perfect for cutting through rich, fatty meats like steak. A low-tannin wines offer a lighter, softer texture which work better for lighter dishes.

Sam’s top picks for understanding tannins:

• Aldi’s Lisbon Red (£5.99, 75cl) boasts notes of dark chocolate, plums and cherries with a rich, medium to full-bodied palate and tannins on the finish

• Aldi’s Nero D’Avola (£5.19, 75cl) is a robust Sicilian red that offers a full-bodied profile with lively acidity and slight tannins. It’s rich dark fruit in character, complemented by subtle savoury hints of liquorice

3. Getting to grips with ‘oak’

If a wine description mentions ‘oak’, or lists flavours like vanilla, spice or nutmeg, it’s a clue to how it was made. “When you taste notes like vanilla, spice or even coconut in a wine, that’s a direct result of it spending time in oak barrels,” says Sam. “This process, known as oak ageing, can also give the wine a smooth, round texture.” So, if you like these tasting notes, then oak-aged wines are for you!

Sam’s top oaked pick:

• Aldi’s Rioja Reserva (£5.99, 75cl) – a smooth, easy-drinking red with bright red berry flavours and a hint of ripe plum on the finish. Made from Tempranillo grapes, it combines fresh fruit flavours with subtle notes of tobacco and spice

4. Unpacking ‘terroir’

This much-used French word might seem intimidating, but it simply refers to the environment where the grapes were grown.

“It’s essentially the unique combination of natural factors that gives a wine it’s distinct flavour profile” Sam explains. “It’s why a crisp, fresh Chardonnay from Chablis tastes so different from a rich, ripe, buttery Californian one. The difference comes down to factors like climate, soil and even the vineyard’s altitude.”

Sam’s top pick:

• Aldi’s Estevez Chilean Viognier (£5.79, 75cl) hails from cool-climate, coastal-influenced vineyards, where maritime breezes and mineral-rich soils shape its character. The result is succulent stone fruits on both the nose and palate – think peach, nectarine and ripe apricots

5. Letting a wine ‘breathe’

Heard that wine needs to ‘breathe’? This just means giving it some air before drinking. Sam says: “Pouring it into a jug or decanter helps the wine open up, softening the flavours and allowing more aromas to come through.”

Ultimately, Sam’s most important rule is to trust your own taste. “Wine should never feel intimidating. The best bottle isn’t the one with the most complicated label – it’s the one you enjoy drinking.”

Aldi’s wider wine range including their NEW Spring Summer range is available in stores nationwide now.

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