IS THAT FRESHLY CUT GRASS IN MY WINE?
What’s that smell…?
If you’ve ever detected garden-like aromas in your wine, you’re not imagining things. From delightful floral bouquets to fruity scents, distinctive spice notes, and even freshly cut grass, wines contain aromas that are very familiar and recognisable to us.
But those aromas aren’t the result of winemakers adding to the wine – wines don’t actually contain flowers, grass or fruit (except for grapes, obviously). You see, each wine has layers of aromas influenced by the grape variety or varieties used, the winemaking methods and the ageing process.
Each grape variety has a signature aroma, known as a primary aroma. For example, Chardonnay has stonefruit and melon notes, and Riesling is known to smell of limes, apple and jasmine.
Secondary aromas relate to how the wine has been made. Toasted wood and vanilla from oak barrels, stalk notes from fermentation or yeast notes from aging on lees in Sparkling wine; these are all secondary aromas.
Tertiary aromas reveal themselves in aged wine. Notes such as earth, leather and cedar appear in red wines. Honey, hay and citrus curd appear in aged whites.
What aromas from the garden might I find in my wine?
White wines regularly display floral, citrus and tropical fruit aromas, as well as some herb and spice notes. You might detect the heady scent of honeysuckle in your Marsanne, peach and melon aromas in your Chardonnay, or the zesty freshness of pear, apple and lemon in your Pinot G. And that freshly cut grass scent? Well, that’s a common aroma found in Sauvignon Blanc. The grassiness comes from a chemical compound called aldehydes, which is found in both grass and wine. These green notes can be quite lovely and refreshing.
When you lift a glass of red to your nose you might detect aromas of red and black fruits, herbs, pepper, and even woody notes. Cherry aromas are common in Pinot Noir and Tempranillo, while Merlot regularly has dry herb and raspberry notes, and your Shiraz, plum, spice and blackberry.
The bonus of our wines containing all of these amazing aromas is that it makes them perfect to pair with delicious, well-matching foods. Whether it’s oysters with your Riesling, seafood with your Semillon, or lamb with your Cabernet, you’re sure to find a match that excites the senses.
VISIT THE WINE GARDEN
Come along to the FREE Wine Selectors Wine Garden masterclasses at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show to taste and learn all about the flavours and aromas of the garden in Australian wine varietals. Take in the aromas of Sparkling and Rosé, or uncover the flavours of Chardonnay and Shiraz from Australia’s diverse wine regions. Take your wine knowledge up a notch in these fun and interactive tasting sessions. Masterclass sessions start every hour on the hour, but seats are limited. Duration 30 minutes.
