| Lean |
| Thin, lacking good fruit flavours. |
| Lees |
| Sediment occurring during winemaking or bottle aging. Adds flavour and complexity to wines if left "sur lie". |
| Light |
| Wines under 10% alcohol, also wines light in body (and usually short on taste). |
| Lively |
| Wines with fresh, expressive flavours. |
| Loam |
| A soil containing a mixture of clay, silt and sand that is best for the growth of most plants. Loam is not necessarily ideal for viticulture, as it can encourage excessive growth. |
| Long or length |
| Enduring; wine's flavours linger on the palate long after swallowing. |
