There are a lot of terms that are thrown around regarding wines. And, one that you may hear about in the warmer months is “refreshing.” But, what exactly does it mean for a wine to be considered refreshing?

Well, in a word, it’s acidity.

Acid is a natural component in a grape. But a wine maker is looking for just the right balance between the grape’s acid level and its sweetness before harvesting the grapes. The sugar in a grape is what is converted to alcohol during fermentation and the acid is what gives the wine it balance, flavor and mouth-feel.

Have you ever noticed after sipping a lemonade that it can make your mouth tingle and give you a mouth- watering sensation? Well, it’s the acidity of the lemon that gives you that mouth-watering sensation. You may also experience a mouth-watering sensation when sipping your favorite cola drink. In both cases, acid is the primary factor in the sensation in your mouth or the “mouth feel.”

So, now that you know that it’s acid that causes a wine to be described as “refreshing,” what are some higher acid wines? In general, they are going to be the light-bodied white wines but rosés and sparkling wines can also be refreshing.

Here’s a brief listing of high-acid white wines:

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio)

• Albariño

• Chenin Blanc

• Grüner Veltliner

• Riesling

• Vinho Verde

By no means is this an exhaustive listing of high-acid white wines, but these are the best-known ones.

So, acid is just one of the four fundamental traits in good wines. Next time we’ll take a quick look at the other three. Until then, Cheers!