Ripe describes wine made from grapes that have reached suitable maturity, producing developed fruit flavours and balanced sugar, acidity and tannin. In tasting notes, ripe often refers to fruit character that is fully expressed rather than green or underripe. The term does not necessarily mean sweet.
Ripe fruit notes may suggest blackberry, plum, peach or citrus, depending on the grape and style. When grapes become excessively ripe, flavours can shift toward raisins, prunes, jam or cooked fruit, and alcohol may be higher. The ideal degree of ripeness depends on the intended style.
Example: a balanced Napa Cabernet may show ripe blackberry and cassis, while an overripe example may lean toward raisin and prune.
This term is one of hundreds covered in depth across OCS courses, learning paths, and 1-on-1 coaching with Chef Eric.
