Understanding Floral Aromas in Wine

Each wine is a story in itself. Made from the compounds of different natural ingredients, wine is a wonderful symphony of flavors and aromas that come together to create a tasteful experience that cannot be replaced by a simple beverage.

The components of wine are what help us classify it as either good or excellent. And one factor that helps the drinker identify the quality of the wine is that of its floral aroma.

Floral Notes in Each Wine

Now, it is true that a simple sip of wine can tell you how sweet, savory, salty or bitter the wine is. However, it is the aroma that gives you a sense of its herbal, mineral and earthy floral content. Floral aromas in wine are distinguished from bouquets, which is basically a wide spectrum of smells that indicates the fermentation and aging of the wine.

Each wine; whether it is the Chianti Classico or your favorite Chardonnay from Montemaggio, consists of different floral aromas that aren’t necessarily common in each style. For example, when it comes to white wine, the floral notes usually consist of more developed and aromatic fragrances such as citrus and white fruits. For red wines, the floral content consists of more earthy aromas that complement the complex berry fruit that make up the wine.

Most Common Floral Aromas

Below are the more common floral notes that are present in some of the most popular wines.

Rose

Mostly present in white and red wines such as the Sangiovese and, rose is considered to be a multifaceted aroma in wine.

Citrus Blossom

As a very popular aroma, the citrus blossom is a perfumed smell that is most desirable in white wines such as the Chardonnay.

Geranium

The floral aroma of geranium helps identify the fault in the wine. If the floral aroma of geranium is present in high amounts, it indicates geraniol, a chemical compound that occurs in mashed grapes before they are fermented.

Lavender

Very similar to rose, this floral aroma is also found in different red Italian wines such as the ones from the Montemaggio vineyards.

White Flowers

Present in white wines, the white flower aroma usually complements the fruity essence of the wine.

Violet

This floral aroma is found in much finer red wines from high quality wineries.

Floral aromas only make up one aspect of the floral content of wine itself. Along with floral aromas, wine can consist of a bouquet of scents that can range from the more earthy fragrances to fruity components of the wine flavor. And by choosing the right aroma, you can determine your own favorite taste of wine simply by taking a sniff of the heady elixir.