Here are the definitions for the letter "p"

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PETIT ROUGE

Has synonym name Orion Gris. V.vinifera red-wine creating variety sparsely grown in the Valle d 'Aosta region of N.E Italy. Reportedly capable of aging well, developing fine aromas and balanced flavors. Currently blended with Fumin varietal wine by one winery to create the deeply colored "Vin de La Sabla" wine. Not to be confused with the french-american hybrid Orion cultivar.

PETIT VERDOT

Grape grown in limited amounts. Found mainly in the temperate Bordeaux region St.Émilion subdistrict and used to make a red wine later blended with other famous Bordeaux varietal wines. Recommended for growing in the State of Virginia. Has higher titratable acid and is slightly more cold-hardy than Cabernet Sauvignon, ripening around the same time in mid-late October.

PETITE SIRAH

Historically has been something of a "mystery" vine. When first imported into California this variety somehow acquired the subject name possibly as a result of a labeling error confusing it with Petite Syrah. Is now a widely grown grape variety in Califor

PEURION

Has several synonym names including Meslier Vert and Troyen Blanc. Variety reported (2001) to be the possible result of a Pinot cepage x Gouais Blanc cross. No other details as yet.

Ph

A chemical measurement of the intensity of the acidity in a wine; the lower the pH, the more intense the acid. Low pH wines are better candidates for aging as they are less sensitive to oxidation and have greater resistance to bacteria. But pH is really a much more important factor to winemakers than to most consumers.

Photosynthesis

The biological process in which plants, by virtue of chlorophyll and energy derived from the sun, convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen. The result is the accumulation of sugar in the plant, including the fruit. The accumulation of sugar in the fruit that the fruit is eventually considered ripe, although this only refers to sugar ripeness not physiological ripeness.

Phylloxera

A vine louse which devastated the vineyards of Europe in the late 18th Century. The cause of the disease was initially uncertain, but eventually the Phylloxera vastatrix louse was identified on the roots of the affected vines. It was imported from North A

Phylloxera

The name of a root louse which attacks and devastates grapevines. It spread from America to Europe in the 1860's and destroyed the vineyards of France, then spread elsewhere. Most of the world's vineyards are now planted on American rootstock (which is more resistant to Phylloxera). However, in the last 20 years it has become rampant in the Napa Valley and caused major replanting.

Physiological ripeness

This refers to the ripening of substances other than sugar in the grapes, such as tannins. Picking grapes that have sugar ripeness ensures the wine will reach a sufficient alcohol content as the sugar is converted, but if the grapes are not physiologically ripe they will impart a green, harsh character to the wine. The onset of physiological ripeness is signified by the change in colour of the pips from green to yellow.

PICARDAN (BLANC)

Listed as a synonym name, by the international grape variety database (above) at Geilweilerhof, Germany, for the Bourboulenc white wine producing variety grown in the southern Rhone and Provence regions of France. (No other details as yet).

PICARDAN (NOIR)

Synonym name for Cinsaut variety where grown in the southern Rhone region of France. Occasionally used in red wine blends but finding less favor in the last decades of the 20th century.

PICCOLA NERA

Has several synonym names including Negra Tenera and Petite Raisin. Variety grown in several countries around the Adriatic, but best known in the Carso DOC of the Fruili-Venezia region of Italy where it is a minor ingredient in Terrano based blended red wines that can improve with 3 to 6 years aging.

PICOLIT

Has several synonym names including Balafan, Peccoleto, Ranful Weiss, Wisellertraube Weiss and Uva del Friuli. Reported to be an ancient indigenous white wine producing variety from the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region of northern Italy. Is low-yielding and is difficult to cultivate. Susceptible at flowering to unknown diseases (reported as similar to Coulure and Millerandage). Sources report that only about 400 hectares are currently (2003) planted, mainly in Friuli. Mainly used for creating sweet dessert wine famous since the Middle Ages.

PIEDIROSSO

Red-wine grape grown in Campania, Italy. Has several synonym names including Palombina, Pere 'e Pallummo and Strepparossa. Used as a blending wine in the Naples area product known as "Lachryma Christi del Vesuvio" along with Olivella and Aglianico grapewines.

Pierce's Disease

A bacterial disease spread by insects known as sharpshooters or leafhoppers. It has devastated areas of California's vineyards. There is no known treatment, although the problem is subject to considerable research.