What does the word "oenothèque" mean?
Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
The Dom Pérignon Champagne Cuvée Oenothèque—what does the word “oenothèque” mean?
—William W., Oakley, Calif.
Dear William,
Oenothèque is the French version of the Italian enoteca and German vinothek. Essentially, all these words just refer to a place to store wine or a wine library, though enoteca in particular often means a local wine shop.
The Moët & Chandon Brut Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon Oenothèque is a wine that’s late-disgorged after spending extra years in the cellar. In this case, “Oenothèque” refers to the place where the wine was stored for the extra time.
—Dr. Vinny
