Wine tasting descriptors

The use of wine tasting descriptors allows the taster to qualitatively relate the <a href="/facts/Aroma_of_wine/S0h7e9By">aromas</a> and <a href="/facts/Flavor_(taste)/mdB8ysuK">flavors</a> that the taster experiences and can be used in assessing the overall quality of <a href="/facts/Wine/przCrC98">wine</a>. Wine writers differentiate <a href="/facts/Wine_tasting/F2ah9jhX">wine tasters</a> from casual enthusiasts; tasters attempt to give an objective description of the wine's taste (often taking a systematic approach to tasting), casual enthusiasts appreciate wine but pause their examination sooner than tasters. The primary source of a person's ability to taste wine is derived from their <a href="/facts/Olfactory/t6ytFklU">olfactory</a> senses. A taster's own personal experiences play a significant role in conceptualizing what they are tasting and attaching a description to that perception. The individual nature of tasting means that descriptors may be perceived differently among various tasters.
The following is an incomplete list of wine tasting descriptors and a common meaning of the terms. These terms and usage are from Karen MacNeil's 2001 edition of The Wine Bible unless otherwise noted.

Wine tasting descriptors open-in-new

Wine tasting descriptors