V

Vino Blanco
White Wine

Vino de Champaña
Champagne

Vino Rosado:
Rose Wine

Vino Tinto
Red Wine

Vintage
This wine term describes a grape harvest of a specific year. A vintage wine is one that’s made using 95 percent of those grapes. Wines made from grapes harvested from several years are called nonvintage.

Vioronique
A term describing dishes garnished with seedless white grapes. One of the most popular of these dishes is sole Vioronique fillet of sole poached in white wine, covered with a white sauce and garnished with white grapes.

Vitello
Italian for veal.

Viticulture
The science or study of growing grapes for wine.

Vodka
A clear, colorless, unaged liquor originally made in Russia from potatoes. Today’s vodka, which is almost odorless and tasteless, may be made from other ingredients such as corn, wheat or rye. Vodka is integral to many cocktails such as the Screwdriver, Bloody Mary and vodka Martini. If served straight, it should always be icy-cold. Flavored vodkas have become popular in the United States and may be flavored with anything from fruits to hot peppers. Some flavored vodkas are even sweetened slightly.

Vol-au-vent
Said to have been created by the famous French chef Careme, a vol-au-vent is a Puff Pastry shell that resembles a pot with a lid. It can be small (individual-size) or large (6 to 8 inches in diameter). The pastry is classically filled with a cream sauce — based mixture, usually of chicken, fish, meat or vegetables. The puff-pastry lid is set on top of the filling. This dish may be served as an appetizer or an entree. The term vol-au-vent, flying in the wind, refers to the pastry’s incredible lightness.

Volailles
Is French for poultry.

Vouvray
Any of various white wines made in and around the French village of Vouvray in the Loire Valley, usually from CHENIN BLANC grapes. These wines can vary greatly, with a broad range including dry, semisweet, sweet, slightly sparkling or fully sparkling. Vouvrays can range from average to excellent, depending on the vintner.