| 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 fruit, 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 |
vanilla, 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, e.g. vinified or aged in new oak aging barrels) |
| Chenin blanc |
wet wool, beeswax, honey, apple, almond |
| Gewürztraminer |
rose petals, lychee, spice |
| Grüner Veltliner |
green apple, citrus |
| Marsanne |
almond, honeysuckle, marzipan |
| Melon de Bourgogne |
lime, salt, green apple |
| Muscato |
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, cat pee (tasters' term for guava) |
| Sémillon |
honey, orange, lime |
| Trebbiano (Ugni blanc) |
lime, herbs |
| Verdicchio |
apple, minerals, citrus |
| Vermentino |
pear, cream, green fruits |
| Viognier |
peach, pear, nutmeg, apricot |
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