Flavour Finder

Using the flavour wheel

To Identify a wine and the grape variety first note the tastes on your palate as they apear within the wheel. Now use the notes below to point to the wine region and grape.

Here's a key to the flavours you'll find on the flavour wheel. For an enhanced view of the wheel click the image.

FRUITY

Green apples

crisp dry whites, Mosel Kabinett Riesling.

Stewed apple

softer whites such as Fume Blanc and lighter styles of Chardonnay.

Pear

Chenin Blanc.

Peardrops (which can also smell like nail polish or bubblegum)

is found in young wines such as Beaujolais.

Lemon

Crisp dry whites. In riper New World wines such as Semillon and Sauvignon the flavour is more lemon peel than lemon juice.

Grapefruit

Crisper styles of Chardonnay, Scheurebe.

Orange

Many sweet Muscats, particularly Orange Muscat. Marsala.

Lime

Australian Riesling, Semillon, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Gooseberry

Sauvignon Blanc.

Grape

Muscat, German Riesling.

Pineapple Fresh

ultra-ripe Chardonnays and Semillon.

Pineapple Roast/caramelised

older semillon and Marsanne.

Melon

Lighter styles of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc.

Banana

Beaujolais Nouveau and other newly made wines.

Peach

Chardonnay, white Bordeaux, botrytised dessert wines.

Apricot

Viognier.

Mango

New World Chardonnay and Semillon.

Lychee

Gewurztraminer, Irsai Oliver.

Cherry

Valpolicella, Beaujolais and other light fruity reds.

Strawberry

Pinot Noir Rosd, younger Pinot Noirs.

Raspberry

Young Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Beaujolais.

Plum Fresh

Merlot, Zinfandel.

Plum Cooked:

vintage port.

Blackberry

Many red wines, including Bordeaux.

Blackcurrant

Cabemet Sauvignon.

Raisin

Sweet oloroso sherry, Malmsey, liqueur Muscat.

Prune

Southern Italian reds.

Fig

Sweet oloroso sherry, Malmsey, liqueur Muscat.

Strawberry jam

Grenache, Rioja.

Black cherry/blackcurrant jam

Full-bodied New World reds.

SWEET

Chocolate

Richer styles of red, particularly Merlot and Shiraz.

Toffee

Australian liqueur Muscats, amontillado sherry.

Butterscotch

Big, barrel- fermented Chardonnays.

Honey

Vouvray, aged Chenin Blanc, vintage Champagne, Sautemes.

WOOD

Vanilla

Oaked Chardonnays, Rioja and other traditional Spanish reds.

Oak

Newly released oaked or oak chipped) whites and reds.

Cedar

Red Bordeaux and other top Cabernet Sauvignons.

SPICE

Tobacco

Red Bordeaux.

Smoke

Pouilly-Fume., Syrah. Can also come from heavily charred barrels.

Liquorice

Big full-bodied reds such as Zinfandel.

White pepper

Cruner Veltliner, Cabernet Franc. Black

pepper

Syrah and Shiraz.

Cinnamon

Mature Syrah.

SAVOURY

Ground coffee

Top quality Bordeaux and Italian reds.

Leather

Old fashioned Hunter Valley Shiraz, aged Rhone reds.

Bacon

Big savoury reds such as Syrah from the Rhone and Pinotage.

Game

Mature red burgtmdy and other aged Pinot Noir.

Truffles

Aged Pinot Noir.

HERBAL

Eucayptus

Southern Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mint

New World Cabernet Sauvignon, some Australian Shiraz.

Green (bell) pepper

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Asparagus

Sauvignon Blanc.

Cut grass

Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon-style wines.

Hay

Vintage Champagne.

FLORAL

Blossom

Mosel Riesling, Viognier.

Elderflowers

Muscat.

Red roses

Gewurztraminer. Sometimes there's a touch in Pinot Noir.

Violets

Top quality red Bordeaux; Syrah, particularly Cote-Rotie. Also top Chinon and Bourgueil; top Pinot Noir.

NUTTY

Almonds

Soave, Bianco di Custoza and similar dry Italian whites.

Biscuits

Vintage Champagne.

Grilled nuts

Top white burgundy, vintage Champagne, drier styles of sherry, tawny port.

Toast

Barrel-fermented Chardonnay, vintage Champagne.

Bread

Non-vintage Champagne.

Yeast

Muscadet and drier styles of Champagne. Fino and manzanilla sherry.

DAIRY

Cream

Richer styles of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

Butter

Richer styles of Chardonnay, especially ones that have undergone malolactic fermentation

MINERAL

Petrol

Mature Riesling.

Earth

Ultra dry whites such as Muscadet, and traditional southern French whites.

Stones

Dry Italian whites.

Flint

Chablis, Sancerre and other Loire Sauvignons.