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Body is a term used to describe the way the wine feels in your mouth; it addresses the density, weight and texture of the wine.
A wine has either a full, medium or light body. A full-bodied, or *big* wine, feels heavy or thick on the tongue. A light-bodied, or *delicate* wine, feels thin on the tongue. A medium-bodied wine falls between the two.
To simplify, I have heard a light-bodied wine compared to water or skim milk; a medium-bodied wine compared to 2% or whole milk; and a full-bodied wine compared to heavy cream.
The body of a wine depends on amount of alcohol, acid, residual sugar, tannins and extract in the wine. A full-bodied wine will have a high level of alcohol and elevated amounts of sugar or tannins. A Red Zinfandel will often be full-bodied. A light-bodied wine will have a low alcohol content and small amounts of sugar or tannins. Champagnes are considered light-bodied wines.
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