Wine Pronunciation Guide

Mispronouncing the name of a wine or a wine region in the company of a wine snob will certainly bring you nothing but trouble. Some wine 'experts' just love to show off by belittling those who know less than they do.

Fortunately for you, I am no snob. We all have to begin somewhere, and I am happy to see you taking an interest in learning about the world of wine.

And so I have put together a list of many common wine names and wine regions, some of which are often mispronounced. The list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but it will get you through most conversations about wine.

Alsace - al zass

Beaujolais - BO zho lay

Burgundy - BUR gun dee

Cabernet Sauvignon - cab er NAY saw veen YON

Chablis - sha BLEE

Champagne - sham PAIN

Chardonnay - shar doe NAY

Chianti - kee AHN tee

Côtes du Rhône - coat deh rone

Gerwurztraminer - geh VERTZ trah mee ner

Médoc - meh doc

Merlot - mer LOW

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - mon tay pul chee AH no da BRUTE so

Muscadet - moos cah day

Muscat - moos caht

Nebbiolo - neh bee OH low

Pinot Bianco - pee no bee AHN coh

Pinot Grigio - pee no GREE jho

Pinot Gris - pee no gree

Pinot Noir - pee no NWAHR

Riesling - REES ling

Rioja - ree OH ha

Rosé - roe ZAY

Sangiovese - san joe VA say

Sauvignon Blanc - saw veen YON blan

Syrah - see RAH

Tempranillo - tem pra NEE oh

Trebbiano - Tre bee AH no

Zinfandel - ZIN fun dell

Study this list and your friends will be impressed with your wine pronunciation skills!