Racking
The process of transferring the wine from one container, such as a barrel, to another.

Rancio (France)
The rancio style is one of fortification and oxidation, generally achieved by prolonged (decades in some cases) periods of ageing in wood. It is popular in Rivesaltes and Maury.

Recioto (Italy)
This term describes wines made from grapes which have been dried for several months prior to fermentation. The dehydration results in a concentration of the grape sugars, and the resulting wines are sweet. If fermented to dryness the wines are known as Amarone. The drying process may be referred to as passito.

Rehoboam
A large format Burgundy and Champagne bottle, equivalent to six standard bottles. In Bordeaux this size is known as a Jeroboam - although in Burgundy and Champagne a Jeroboam contains only four bottles. Confusing! See my advisory page on wine bottle sizes for more information.

Remuage (France)
An essential step in the production of Champagne. The remuage or riddling process involves gradual turning and inversion of the bottle, bring the lees into the neck prior to their removal. For more information see my wine guide to Champagne.

Reserva
Spanish red wines that have received a minimum of three years ageing prior to release. At least one year must be in oak.

Reserve
The word reserve on a wine label should apply to a producer's highest quality wine from its best vineyards that has been set aside for special care in aging and storing. And in some regions this is the case, either voluntarily or by law. However, in some regions, the term reserve is not regulated and some wine producers label low-quality, mass-produced wines as such to sell them more easily.

Residual Sugar
Residual sugar is the unfermented grape sugar in wine and is measured in grams per liter of wine. The more the residual sugar the sweeter the wine.

Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a natural compound in the skins of red grapes. Its presence in red wine has been linked to health benefits such as fighting cancer, aging and heart disease. The most famous of these studies is the "French Paradox ," which hypothesized that the inhanbitants of southern France, who enjoyed foods high in saturated fat, experienced a relatively low incidence of heart disease because they consumed moderate amounts of red wine daily.

Retsina
Retsina isn’t a grape but rather a way of making wine in Greece since ancient times. Pine pitch is added to white wine or rosé during fermentation to protect the wine from oxidation, traditionally a high risk during long sea voyages. Retsina pairs well with Greek cuisine and is served well chilled.

Rich
High flavour concentration with balanced astringency, alcohol and fruit.

Riesling
A noble grape that produces some of the world's finest, most long-lived whites. A light, vibrant white wine that often has citrus, floral and mineral notes. It's mostly associated with Germany, but other well-known regions making it include Alsace, Washington, Niagara, Finger Lakes, Okanagan and Clare Valley (Australia). Styles range from bone dry to super sweet. Aromas and flavors include apricot, peach, wet slate, minerals, flowers and petrol (when it's aged).

Right Bank
A collective term for the communes of the right bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux. For more information, see my guide to Bordeaux wine.

Ripasso (Italy)
A brilliant concept for increasing the amount of flavour and interest in basic Valpolicella. The Valpolicella wine is passed over the unpressed but drained must of an Amarone. The bittersweet intensity of the Amarone is imparted, in a small way, to the basic Valpolicella, possibly with the help of a minor secondary refermentation.

Ripe
A mature wine that's ready to drink. If used to describe the grapes, this term means they were picked at sweet full maturity and richness.

Robust
Full-bodied, powerful, heady.

Rootstock
The use of separate rootstock - essentially a clump of roots - onto which the vines are grafted was made necessary by the arrival of Phylloxera. The great Vitis vinifera varieties, such as Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, quickly keel over and die in the presence of Phylloxera infestation. The American Vitis labrusca species, however, are resistant. Unfortunately Vitis labrusca does not make world-class wine. The solution - graft vinifera plants onto Phylloxera-resistant rootstock, which was originally Vitis labrusca, but today is more likely to be a labrusca-vinifera hybrid, or another vine species altogether such as Vitis berlandieri, Vitis riparia or Vitis rupestris. The vast majority of modern vineyards are planted using grafted material.

Rosé/Champagne
Rosés are generally made from red grapes pressed lightly. Champagnes are made from either red, white or a combination of the two.

Round
Smooth and well-developed flavor, without angularity or rough edges.