Grape Varieties
Wine tastes are often compared to other items of food and drink, and these are used in tasting notes as below.
Red Grape Variety | Common Sensory Descriptors |
---|---|
Cabernet Franc |
Tobacco, Green Bell Pepper, Raspberry, Freshly-Mown Grass |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
Blackcurrants, Eucalyptus, Chocolate, Tobacco |
Gamay |
Pomegranate, Strawberry |
Grenache |
Smoky, Pepper, Raspberry |
Malbec |
Violet, Plums, Tart Red Fruit, Earthy Minerality |
Merlot |
Black Cherry, Plums, Tomato |
Mourvèdre |
Thyme, Clove, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Violet, Blackberry |
Nebbiolo |
Leather, Tar, Stewed Prunes, Chocolate, Liquorice, Roses |
Norton |
Red Fruits, Elderberries |
Petite Sirah (Durif) |
Earthy, Black Pepper, Dark Fruits |
Petit Verdot |
Violets (later), Pencil Shavings |
Pinot Noir |
Raspberry, Cherry, Violets, “Farmyard” (with age), Truffles |
Pinotage |
Bramble Fruits |
Sangiovese |
Herbs, Black Cherry, Leathery, Earthy |
Syrah (Shiraz) |
Tobacco, Black/White Pepper, Blackberry, Smoke |
Tempranillo |
Vaniila, Strawberry, Tobacco |
Teroldego |
Spices, Chocolate, Red Fruits |
Zinfandel |
Black Cherry, Pepper, Mixed Spices, Mint |
White Grape Variety | Common Sensory Descriptors |
---|---|
Albariño |
Lemon, Minerals |
Breidecker |
Apple, Pear |
Chardonnay |
Butter, Melon, Apple, Pineapple, Vanilla (if oaked, for example, vinified or aged in new oak aging barrels) |
Chennin Blanc |
Wet Wool, Beeswax, Honey, Apple, Almond |
Gewürztraminer |
Rose Petals, Lychee, Spice |
Grüner Veltliner |
Green Apple, Citrus |
Marsanne |
Almond, Honey Suckle, Marzipan |
Melon de Bourgogne |
Lime, Salt, Green Apple |
Muscat |
Honey, Grapes, Lime |
Palomino |
Honeydew, Citrus, Raw Nuts |
Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) |
White Peach, Pear, Apricot |
Prosecco |
Apple, Honey, Musk, Citrus |
Riesling |
Citrus Fruits, Peach, Honey, Petrol |
Sauvignon Blanc |
Gooseberry, Lime, Asparagus, Cut Grass, Bell Pepper (Capsicum), Grapefruit, Passionfruit, Guava |
Sémillon |
Honey, Orange, Lime |
Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc) |
Lime, Herbs |
Verdicchio |
Apples, Minerals, Citrus |
Vermentino |
Pear, Cream, Green Fruits |
Viognier |
Peach, Pear, Nutmeg, Apricot |