In the context of wine, what does "dry" mean?

In the context of wine, "dry" refers to a wine that has little to no residual sugar, which means that there is no perceivable sweetness on the palate. This characteristic is primarily determined during the fermentation process. When the yeast consumes the sugars present in the grape juice, if the fermentation is allowed to complete fully, most of the sugar is converted to alcohol, leaving the wine with minimal to no residual sugar.

Wines that are described as dry will often have other flavor profiles dominated by acidity, tannins, and various fruit or herbal notes without the influence of sweetness. In contrast, wines that are sweet or contain significant residual sugar will taste noticeably sweet on the palate, which is distinct from the dryness definition. Understanding this terminology is essential for wine tasting and making informed choices for pairings and preferences.