The Sommelier Test — Vocabulary in Context
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The Sommelier Test — Tasting Words
Wine tasting has its own vocabulary. ‘Oaky’, ‘tannic’, ‘mineral’, ‘finish’. These words mean nothing until you taste them. Then they mean everything. Language learning is the same: words in context stick. Words on a list disappear. The wine glass is the context. The word is what you learn from holding it.
Vocabulary in context = learning words from real situations, not lists.
Tasting language (B1 descriptive vocabulary):
texture: smooth, rough, silky, sharp
taste: bitter, sweet, sour, salty, acidic, rich
smell: earthy, floral, smoky, fresh, musty
finish: long, short, clean, lingering
These words travel across domains: a ‘sharp’ answer, a ‘bitter’ experience, a ‘rich’ story.
🍷 “A sharp wine” → “A sharp criticism”
☕ “A rich coffee” → “A rich history”
🌿 “An earthy flavour” → “An earthy humour”
→ The same adjective works because it carries the same sensory idea.
Which adjective fits?
1. The news left a ___ taste in my mouth. (bitter/sweet) bitter (unpleasant feeling, like a bitter drink)
2. Her answer was ___. She got straight to the point. (sharp/smooth) sharp (precise, cutting — like a sharp knife or wine)
3. Can you use ‘smooth’ to describe a person’s style? Yes — ‘a smooth talker’ means someone who speaks easily and persuasively.
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
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