Wine Tasting Resources
Wine Tasting Descriptors
White Wine Varietal Characters
Red Wine Varietal Characters
Wine grape varieties are evaluated according to a wide range of descriptors which draw comparisons with other, tastes and flavors and aromas of fruits, flowers, vegetables, spices and herbs we encounter everyday. The following table provides a brief and by no means exhaustive summary of typical descriptors for the better-known varietals.
| Red Grapes | Descriptors | White Grapes | Descriptors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabernet Franc | tobacco, green bell pepper, raspberry | Albariño | lemon, minerals |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | blackcurrants, eucalyptus, chocolate, tobacco | Chardonnay | butter, melon, apple, pineapple, vanilla (if oaked) |
| Gamay | pomegranate, strawberry | Chenin Blanc | wet wool, beeswax, honey, apple, almond |
| Grenache | smoky, pepper, raspberry | Gewürztraminer | rose petals, lychee, spice |
| Malbec | violet, plums, tart red fruit, earthy minerality | Marsanne | almond, honeysuckle, marzipan |
| Merlot | black cherry, plums, tomato | Muscat | almond, honeysuckle, marzipan |
| Mourvèdre | clove, cinnamon, black pepper, violet, blackberry | Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) | white peach, pear, apricot |
| Nebbiolo | leather, tar, stewed prunes, chocolate, liquorice, | Prosecco | apple, honey, musk, citrus |
| Petite Sirah (Durif) | earthy, black pepper, dark fruits | Riesling | citrus fruits, peach, honey, petrol |
| Petit Verdot | violets (later), pencil shaving | Sauvignon Blanc | gooseberry, lime, asparagus, cut grass, grapefruit, passionfruit |
| Pinot Noir | raspberry, cherry, violets, "farmyard" (with age) | Sémillon | honey, orange, lime |
| Sangiovese | herbs, black cherry, leathery, earthy | Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc) | lime, herbs |
| Syrah (Shiraz) | tobacco, black/white pepper, blackberry, smoke | Verdicchio | apple, minerals, citrus |
| Tempranillo | vanilla, strawberry, tobacco | Vermentino | pear, cream, green fruits |
| Zinfandel | black cherry, pepper, mixed spices, mint | Viognier | peach, pear, nutmeg, apricot |