Breed is a traditional wine-tasting term used to describe distinction, pedigree or a sense of class in a wine. It is usually associated with wines that express the character of a respected vineyard, grape variety or appellation with balance and definition. The term is subjective and has no formal legal or technical definition.
A wine described as having breed is generally considered to show refinement and identity rather than simply power or richness. The word appears most often in traditional wine writing and tasting notes, particularly when discussing established regions and high-quality sites.
Example: a finely balanced Grand Cru Burgundy or classified-growth Bordeaux may be described by a critic as showing breed.
Related terms: typicity refers to how clearly a wine expresses its region or grape; finesse describes delicacy and precision.
This term is one of hundreds covered in depth across OCS courses, learning paths, and 1-on-1 coaching with Chef Eric.
