Decanting
The process of pouring wine from its bottle into a decanter to separate the sediment from the wine.

Deciduous
The annual shedding of leaves at a particular season or stage of growth.

Dégorgement
The disgorging or removal of sediment from bottles that results from secondary fermentation.

Demi-sec
Moderately sweet to medium sweet sparkling wines.

Dessert wine
Varies by region. In the UK, a very sweet, low alcohol wine. In the US by law, any wine containing over 15% alcohol.

Devatting
The process of separeting red must from pomace, which can happen before or after fermentation.

Diurnal temperature variation
The degree of temperature variation that occurs in a wine region from daytime to night.

DO
1. The abbreviation for Denominación de Origen, or "place name." This is Spain's designation for wines whose name, origin of grapes, grape varieties and other important factors are regulated by law.

DO
2. The abbreviation for dissolved oxygen, the degree of oxygen saturation in a wine, which strongly affects oxidation of the wine and its ageing properties.

DOC
The abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or "controlled place name." This is Italy's designation for wine whose name, origin of grapes, grape varieties and other important factors are regulated by law. It is also the abbreviation for Portugal's highest wine category, which has the same meaning in that country.

DOCG
The abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, or controlled and guaranteed place name, which is the category for the highest-ranking wine in Italy.

Dormant Pruning
Trimming and shaping of the vines. This is a stimulating process. Pruning wounds often close faster when made in the winter than those made in the summer.

Doux
The French word for sweet. Usually refers to the sweetest category of sparkling wines.

Drawing off
see Devatting.

Drip dickey
A wine accessory that slips over the neck of a wine bottle and absorbs any drips that may run down the bottle after pouring - preventing stains to table cloths, counter tops or other surfaces.

Dry
Wines with zero or very low levels of residual sugar. The opposite of sweet, except in sparkling wines, where dry means sweet.