Basic Guide to Aromas and Tastes Found in Wine

There are an amazing variety of aromas and tastes that can be discovered in wine tasting. However, when you are new to wine tasting it is hard to know exactly what you are perceiving from the fragrance of the wine and what exactly are the flavors you are tasting in the wine. The following list will help you determine some of the most common aromas and tastes found in wine.

First you need to know how to taste a wine correctly.

Basic Steps In Wine Tasting
First fill your glass a third full.
Next with the wine glass on a table gently swirl the wine gently in a small circles. (This releases the aromas)
Then tilt the wine glass and stick your nose in as far as you can. (Really! Just don't get your nose wet though!)
Take a deep whiff of the wine and think about what it reminds you of. This is called the nose.
Next take a sip of the wine and let it linger on your tongue before you swallow.
Then take a deep breath with your mouth slightly open and think about what tastes you can pick up from the wine.

Common Smells (aromas when young; bouquet when aged) and Tastes (flavor of the wine) you will encounter in wine generally. (Note: this list does not include wine flaws or problems.)
Berries: Blackberry, Blueberry, Gooseberry, Raspberry and Strawberry.
Citrus: Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Orange.
Fruits: Apple, Black Currant, Fig, Pear, and Raisin.
Stone Fruits: Apricot, Cherries (red and black), Dates, Lychee, Nectarine, Peach, Plum, Prune.
Tropical fruits: Banana, Coconut, Kiwi, Mango, Melon, Pineapple.
Flowers: Honeysuckle, Lavender, Orange Blossoms, Rose, Violet. (White wines mostly)
Plants: Currant leaf, Eucalyptus, Grass.
Nuts: Almonds, Hazelnuts, Walnuts and Nuttiness.
Spices and Herbs: Anise, Black and White Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Herbs (basil, mint, peppermint, spearmint, tarragon) Licorice, and Vanilla.
Vegetables: Asparagus, Bell peppers
Odd: Butterscotch, Chocolate, Coffee, Fresh Dirt, Fruitcake, Honey, Jam or Jelly, Leather, Petrol (Kerosene), Mineral (wet rock) Mocha, Smoke, Tea, Tobacco, Truffle (fungi), Wood (Cedar, Oak).

Note: If you have a cold or allergies or someone is smoking nearby or wearing heavy cologne or perfume your ability to smell will be greatly reduced. Also as we get older our ability to smell diminishes somewhat. The nose is the most important aspect of wine enjoyment because it combines with the ability to taste to create the variety of tastes we experience. As a wine ages in the bottle the aromas change; they become mature, softer, blended. This is what creates a bouquet. Aroma is often used for young wines; bouquet for aged wines.

In truth, few people are able to truly recognize all the subtle fragrances and flavors normally attributed to wines and wine kit reviews. Consider the descriptions often written about wines as a guide and don't feel inadequate if you don't taste or smell the exact same things as described—we really are quite different in what we experience, especially in the enjoyment of wine. If you like the wine that is all that counts! Some wine descriptions are quite flamboyant! So don't take them too seriously!


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