How we can make the language of fine wine more palatable

<p>Is it acidic and astringent? Or bright and brilliant? For many Americans, the world of fine wine can feel exclusionary because of the way we <em>talk</em> about wine.<br> <br> That's why some in the wine business are moving away from describing "earthiness" and whether a wine "has seen wood."<br> <br> "This kind of [language] is not just to alienate normal people. This kind of conversation is really very technical, like the way car lovers would talk about the technical elements of a car," said Jonathon Alsop, founder and executive director of the Boston Wine School. "But one of the things that we in the wine business need to change is that communicating is not just talking. Some part of communicating is also the listening part, and letting the other person talk every now and then. And this is something that we're starting to learn in the wine world."<br> <br> Alsop also said there's potential for confusion when someone says a wine "has a lot of grapefruit in it," for example, when there's not actually any grapefruit in the blend.<br> <br> So what should you drink this summer? Alsop recommended vinho verde from Portugal. It's a bargain white wine at about $10 a bottle, and the wine itself is a little bit bubbly and has an interesting flavor because it's a blend of three to five different grapes. And Alsop said it's not a wine you have to spend a lot of time appreciating — just open it and drink.<br> <br> To pair with your wine this summer, Amy Traverso, senior food editor at Yankee Magazine, recommended a few items for the grill: <a href="https://newengland.com/food/fish-seafood/shrimp-and-corn-clambake-grill-packs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"clambake" grill packets</a>, <a href="https://newengland.com/food/breads/skillet-garlic-pull-apart-rolls/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pull-apart garlic bread</a>,<a href="https://newengland.com/food/blueberry-gingersnap-crumble/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> blueberry-gingersnap crumble</a> and <a href="https://newengland.com/food/desserts/campfire-sm