English Language & Usage Asked on November 28, 2021
Which adjective is suitable for tastes of wine? And why?
I’d like to know which expression you usually use and if there is any difference.
More context: I had a chance to translate ”酸味”, which means both sour and acid, to English for a wine description. Then I wondered which word, sourness or acidity, sounds more natural for English speakers to explain the taste of wine.
Acidic is the correct translation when dealing with wine. Grapes contain malic acid, which gives them a “sour” or “tart” taste until they ripen.
The wikipedia has an article on malic acid that’s quite informative: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malic_acid
There’s a Japanese entry for malic acid: リンゴ酸
Malum is the Latin word for apple, so it looks like a pretty straightforward translation.
Answered by Global Charm on November 28, 2021
"Sourness" has something of a negative connotation in terms of flavor of wine. However, in other contexts, such as "sweet and sour" chicken, sour candy, or a "whiskey sour" (drink), it's not a negative description. "Acidity" is a much more common description in writing about wine. "Tart" and "tartness" are also seen in many wine flavor descriptions.
The Wine Spectator has an article about acidity, tartness, and other aspects of wine flavor. Here is one interesting quote: "Hipster sommeliers and wine writers who consider themselves cutting edge favor tart, tangy wine styles."
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/perceiving-acidity-in-wine
Note that "acidity" has a scientific definition, involving pH (a measurement regime involving ions and electrons in chemistry), while tartness, sourness, and similar flavor terms do not (as far as I can determine).
Answered by user8356 on November 28, 2021
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