Free guide
How to pronounce wine names
214 grape varieties, regions, label and tasting terms in French, Italian, Spanish, German, English and Hungarian. Every page has native audio, the IPA, an easy respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals, and what the word means.
We teach the native pronunciation. Established English forms and standard regional variants are listed as accepted, never as mistakes.
Guides by topic
- Most mispronounced wines
- Grape varieties
- Burgundy
- Bordeaux
- Rhône
- Loire
- Champagne & sparkling
- Sherry & Port
- Wine label terms
- Sommelier essentials
- Expert sommelier
Six rules that fix most wine names
- French drops final consonants. The t in Cabernet, Pinot and Merlot is silent: kab-er-NAY, PEE-noh, mer-LOH. Brut is one of the few exceptions.
- French and Italian gn is one sound, like the ny in canyon: Sauvignon is so-vin-YAWN and Bourgogne is boor-GON-yuh, with no hard g.
- French stresses the last syllable. Chardonnay is shar-doh-NAY in French; the English SHAR-dn-ay is also accepted.
- Italian ch is a hard k, and c before e or i is ch. Chianti is kee-AHN-tee; Valpolicella ends in CHEL-lah.
- German w is a v, and ie is a long ee. Gewürztraminer is geh-VURTS-trah-mee-ner; Riesling is REES-ling.
- Spanish j is a breathy h, and ll is a y. Rioja is ree-OH-hah; Tempranillo ends in NEE-yoh.
Each term page explains the rule behind the word, so it carries over to the next label you read.
French wine terms
Grape varieties(19)
- Cabernet Sauvignonkab-er-NAY so-vin-YAWN
- Carignankah-ree-NYAHN
- Carmenèrekar-men-AIR
- Chardonnayshar-doh-NAY
- Chenin BlancSHEN-in BLAHNG
- Cinsaultsan-SOH
- Gamaygah-MAY
- Grenachegreh-NAHSH
- Malbecmal-BEK
- Merlotmer-LOH
- Meuniermun-YAY
- Mourvèdremoor-VEDR
- Muscatmoos-KAH
- Pinot GrisPEE-noh GREE
- Pinot NoirPEE-noh NWAR
- Sauvignon Blancso-vin-yawn BLAHNG
- Sémillonsay-mee-YOHN
- Syrahsee-RAH
- Viogniervee-own-YAY
Wine regions(39)
- Alsaceal-ZASS
- Beaujolaisboh-zhoh-LAY
- BeauneBOHN
- Bordeauxbor-DOH
- Bourgogneboor-GON-yuh
- Chablisshah-BLEE
- Champagneshahm-PAHN-yuh
- Châteauneuf-du-Papeshah-toh-nuhf doo PAHP
- Condrieukohn-dree-UH
- Côte-Rôtiekoht roh-TEE
- Côtes du Rhônekoht doo ROHN
- Crozes-Hermitagekrohz air-mee-TAHJ
- Fleuriefluh-REE
- Gevrey-Chambertinzhev-RAY shahm-ber-TAN
- GravesGRAHV
- Haut MédocOH may-DOK
- Hermitageair-mee-TAHJ
- Languedoclahng-DOK
- LoireLWAHR
- Mâconmah-KOHN
- Margauxmar-GOH
- Médocmay-DOK
- Meursaultmur-SOH
- Minervoismee-ner-VWAH
- Muscadetmoos-kah-DAY
- Nuits-Saint-GeorgesNWEE san ZHORZH
- Pauillacpoh-YAK
- Pessac-Léognanpeh-SAK lay-oh-NYAHN
- Pomerolpoh-muh-ROL
- Pommardpoh-MAR
- Pouilly-Fuissépoo-yee fwee-SAY
- Pouilly-Fumépoo-yee foo-MAY
- Provenceproh-VAHNSS
- Puligny-Montrachetpoo-lee-NYEE mohn-rah-SHAY
- Saint-Émilionsan-tay-mee-LYOHN
- Sancerresahn-SAIR
- Sauternessoh-TERN
- Tourainetoo-RAIN
- Vouvrayvoo-VRAY
Winemaking & label terms(14)
- Appellation d'origine contrôléeah-peh-lah-SYOHN doh-ree-ZHEEN kohn-troh-LAY
- Appellation d'origine protégéeah-peh-lah-SYOHN doh-ree-ZHEEN proh-teh-ZHAY
- BrutBROOT
- Cuvéekoo-VAY
- Grand cru classéGRAHN KROO klah-SAY
- Grand vinGRAHN VAN
- Indication géographique protégéean-dee-kah-SYOHN zhay-oh-grah-FEEK proh-teh-ZHAY
- Méthode cap classiquemeh-TOD KAP klah-SEEK
- Méthode traditionnellemay-tohd trah-dee-see-oh-NEL
- Pourriture noblepoo-ree-toor NOHBL
- Vendange tardivevahn-dahnj tar-DEEV
- Vendanges tardivesvahn-DAHNZH tar-DEEV
- Vieilles vignesvee-AY VEEN-yuh
- Vin de paysVAN duh pay-EE
Tasting terms(10)
General wine terms(4)
Champagne houses(4)
Italian wine terms
Grape varieties(11)
Wine regions(21)
- Amarone della Valpolicellaah-mah-ROH-neh DEL-lah vahl-poh-lee-CHEL-lah
- Asti SpumanteAHS-tee spoo-MAHN-teh
- Barbarescobar-bah-RES-koh
- Barbera d'Astibar-BEH-rah DAHS-tee
- Barolobah-ROH-loh
- Brunello di Montalcinobroo-NEL-loh dee mon-tahl-CHEE-noh
- Chiantikee-AHN-tee
- Chianti Classicokee-AHN-tee KLAHS-see-koh
- Fiano di Avellinofee-AH-noh dee ah-vel-LEE-noh
- Friuli Venezia Giuliafree-OO-lee veh-NEH-tsee-ah JOO-lee-ah
- GaviGAH-vee
- Montepulciano d'Abruzzomon-teh-pool-CHAH-noh dah-BROO-tsoh
- Moscato d'Astimoh-SKAH-toh DAHS-tee
- Proseccoproh-SEK-koh
- PugliaPOO-lyah
- Soavesoh-AH-veh
- Soave Classicosoh-AH-veh KLAHS-see-koh
- Valpolicellavahl-poh-lee-CHEL-lah
- Valpolicella Classicovahl-poh-lee-CHEL-lah KLAHS-see-koh
- VenetoVEH-neh-toh
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesiver-DEE-kyoh day kah-STEL-lee dee YEH-zee
Winemaking & label terms(4)
- Denominazione di Origine Controllatadeh-noh-mee-nah-tsee-OH-neh dee oh-REE-jee-neh kon-trohl-LAH-tah
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantitadeh-noh-mee-nah-tsee-OH-neh dee oh-REE-jee-neh kon-trohl-LAH-tah eh gah-rahn-TEE-tah
- Indicazione Geografica Tipicain-dee-kah-tsee-OH-neh jeh-oh-GRAH-fee-kah TEE-pee-kah
- Reciotoreh-CHOH-toh
Tasting terms(4)
Spanish wine terms
Grape varieties(2)
Wine regions(11)
Winemaking & label terms(4)
Tasting terms(7)
German wine terms
Grape varieties(3)
Wine regions(3)
Winemaking & label terms(9)
Tasting terms(2)
English wine terms
Grape varieties(3)
Wine regions(34)
- Adelaide HillsAD-eh-layd HILZ
- Barossa Valleybah-ROSS-ah VAL-ee
- BurgundyBUR-gun-dee
- Californiakal-ih-FORN-yah
- Calistogakal-ih-STOH-gah
- Carneroskar-NAIR-ohs
- Central OtagoSEN-tral oh-TAH-goh
- Central ValleySEN-tral VAL-ee
- Clare ValleyKLAIR VAL-ee
- Constantiakon-STAN-shuh
- Coonawarrakoo-nuh-WORR-uh
- Eden ValleyEE-den VAL-ee
- ElginEL-ghin
- Hawke's BayHAWKS BAY
- Hunter ValleyHUN-ter VAL-ee
- Margaret RiverMAR-gret RIV-er
- MarlboroughMARL-bruh
- MartinboroughMAR-tin-bruh
- McLaren Valemuh-KLAIR-en VAYL
- Mornington PeninsulaMOR-ning-tun peh-NIN-syoo-lah
- Napa ValleyNAP-uh VAL-ee
- OakvilleOHK-vil
- OregonOR-eh-gun
- Paso RoblesPASS-oh ROH-buls
- RutherfordRUTH-er-ford
- Santa Barbara CountySAN-tah BAR-brah KOWN-tee
- Sonomasuh-NOH-muh
- South Eastern AustraliaSOWTH EE-stern aw-STRAYL-yah
- StellenboschSTEL-en-bosh
- TuscanyTUSS-kuh-nee
- Walker BayWAW-ker BAY
- Western CapeWES-tern KAYP
- Willamette Valleywih-LAM-it VAL-ee
- Yarra ValleyYAR-ah VAL-ee
Winemaking & label terms(10)
- Botrytisboh-TRY-tis
- Late harvestLAYT HAR-vest
- Noble rotNOH-bul ROT
- OakedOHKT
- Old vineOHLD VINE
- PortPORT
- Protected Designation of Originproh-TEK-ted dez-ig-NAY-shun uv OR-ih-jin
- Protected Geographical Indicationproh-TEK-ted jee-oh-GRAF-ih-kul in-dih-KAY-shun
- Traditional methodtrah-DISH-un-ul METH-ud
- VintageVIN-tij
Tasting terms(12)
- Cape BlendKAYP BLEND
- Cream SherryKREEM SHERR-ee
- IcewineICE-wine
- Late bottled vintageLAYT BOT-uld VIN-tij
- Medium SherryMEE-dee-um SHERR-ee
- Pale Cream SherryPAYL KREEM SHERR-ee
- Reserve ruby portree-ZURV ROO-bee PORT
- Ruby PortROO-bee PORT
- SherrySHERR-ee
- Tawny portTAW-nee PORT
- Vintage PortVIN-tij PORT
- White ZinfandelWITE ZIN-fan-del
General wine terms(4)
Hungarian wine terms
Grape varieties(1)
Wine regions(1)
Winemaking & label terms(1)
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