Paying attention to color, aroma, flavor, and texture enhances the enjoyment of wine. Most of us have a limited vocabulary when it comes to discussing our senses.
The Aroma Wheel was developed at the University of California at Davis in the early Eighties as a standard used to describe wine in uniform, non-judgmental terms. It's organized from broad, general adjectives (fruity), to very precise, analogous nouns (grapefruit). The original layout is, indeed, a wheel. Below the wheel has been converted into a table.
With practice and experience you'll use more descriptive terms and may come up with a few of your own. "This smells good" is perfectly valid as well!
Next time you pour a glass of wine, give your nose and your vocabulary a workout.
Click on "Read More" to view wheel/table.
The Wine Aroma Wheel
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Fruity |
Citrus |
Grapefruit |
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Lemon |
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Berry |
Blackberry |
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Raspberry |
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Strawberry |
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Black Currant (Cassis) |
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(Tree) Fruit |
Cherry |
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Apricot |
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Peach |
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Apple |
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(Tropical) Fruit |
Pineapple |
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Melon |
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Banana |
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(Dried) Fruit |
Strawberry Jam |
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Raisin |
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Prune |
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Fig |
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Other |
Artificial Fruit |
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Methyl Anthranilate |
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Spicy |
Spicy |
Licorice/Anise |
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Black Pepper |
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Cloves |
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Floral |
Floral |
Geranium |
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Violet |
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Rose |
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Orange Blossom |
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Microbiological |
Yeasty |
Leesy |
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Baker’s Yeast |
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Lactic |
Yogurt |
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Sweaty |
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Sauerkraut |
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Other |
Mousy |
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Horsey |
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Sherry |
Oxidized |
Oxidized |
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Pungent |
Cool |
Menthol |
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Hot |
Alcohol |
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Chemical |
Pungent |
Sulfur Dioxide |
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Ethanol |
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Acetic Acid |
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Ethyl Acetate |
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Sulfur |
Wet Wool, Wet Dog |
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Sulfur Dioxide |
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Burnt Match |
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Cabbage |
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Skunk |
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Garlic |
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Natural Gas, Mercaptain |
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Hydrogen Sulfide |
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Rubbery |
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Petroleum |
Diesel |
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Kerosene |
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Plastic |
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Tar |
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Earthy |
Moldy |
Moldy Cork |
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Moldy |
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Earthy |
Mushroom |
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Dusty |
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Woody |
Burned |
Smoky |
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Burnt Toast |
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Coffee |
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Phenolic |
Medicinal |
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Phenolic |
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Bacon |
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Resinous |
Oak |
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Cedar |
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Vanilla |
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Caramel |
Caramel |
Honey |
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Butterscotch |
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Diacetyl (Butter) |
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Soy Sauce |
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Chocolate |
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Molasses |
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Nutty |
Nutty |
Walnut |
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Hazelnut |
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Almond |
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Herbaceous or |
Fresh |
Cut Green Grass |
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Bell Pepper |
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Eucalyptus |
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Mint |
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Canned/Cooked |
Green Beans |
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Asparagus |
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Green Olive |
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Black Olive |
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Artichoke |
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Dried |
Hay/Straw |
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Tea |
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Tobacco |
