Below is the Winepro Australia comprehensive alphabetical glossary of flavour, aroma and sensory descriptors commonly used by wine judges, sommeliers, winemakers and serious wine enthusiasts when assessing fine wines.

Our list may help when you find that elusive flavour that you know, but you just can't put your finger on it...

Remember, enjoying fine wine can be done in complete silence too, or accompanied by fine music..

Have Fun.

A

Acacia
Almond
Allspice
Anise
Aniseed
Apple
Apricot
Apricot kernel
Asian spice
Asparagus
Autumn leaves

B

Bacon fat
Baked apple
Baked pear
Banana
Bark
Basil
Bay leaf
Beeswax
Bell pepper
Bergamot
Biscuit
Black cherry
Black olive
Blackberry
Blackcurrant
Black pepper
Black tea
Blood orange
Blueberry
Boysenberry
Briar
Brioche
Brown spice
Bramble
Bread dough
Bruised apple
Bubblegum
Burnt butter
Burnt caramel
Butterscotch

C

Camphor
Candied peel
Candy
Cantaloupe
Capsicum
Caramel
Cardamom
Cassis
Cedar
Celery
Chamomile
Charcoal
Cherry
Chestnut
Choc-mint
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Citrus blossom
Clove
Cocoa
Coconut
Coffee
Cola
Compost
Confectionery
Cooked fruit
Coriander
Cream
Cranberry
Crème brûlée
Cucumber
Currant

D

Damson plum
Dandelion
Dark berries
Dark cherry
Dark chocolate
Date
Dried apricot
Dried fig
Dried herbs
Dried rose
Dried strawberry
Dusty
Dutch cocoa

E

Earl Grey tea
Earth
Earthy
Elderflower
Eucalyptus

F

Fennel
Fig
Flint
Floral
Forest floor
Fresh herbs
Freshly cut grass

G

Game
Garden herbs
Ginger
Gooseberry
Grapefruit
Graphite
Grass
Green apple
Green bean
Green olive
Green peppercorn
Guava

H

Hay
Hazelnut
Heather
Herbaceous
Honey
Honeysuckle

I

Incense
Indian spice
Iris

J

Jammy
Jasmine
Juniper

K

Kaffir lime
Kerosene
Kirsch
Kiwi fruit

L

Lavender
Leafy
Leather
Lemon
Lemon curd
Lemon zest
Lemongrass
Lime
Lime blossom
Liquorice
Lychee

M

Mandarin
Mango
Maraschino cherry
Marzipan
Melon
Menthol
Mineral
Mint
Mocha
Molasses
Mulberry
Mushroom
Musk

N

Nectarine
Nutmeg
Nuts

O

Oak
Oatmeal
Orange
Orange blossom
Orange peel
Oriental spice

P

Papaya
Passionfruit
Peach
Peanut
Pear
Pepper
Persimmon
Petrol
Pine needle
Pineapple
Pink grapefruit
Pistachio
Plum
Pomegranate
Potpourri
Praline
Preserved lemon
Prune

Q

Quince

R

Raisin
Raspberry
Red apple
Red berries
Red cherry
Red currant
Red liquorice
Rhubarb
Roasted coffee
Roasted nuts
Rose
Rose petal
Rosemary

S

Sage
Saline
Sandalwood
Savoury
Smoke
Smoky bacon
Sour cherry
Spearmint
Spice
Star anise
Stewed fruit
Stone fruit
Strawberry
Struck flint
Subtle oak

T

Tangerine
Tar
Tea leaf
Thyme
Tobacco
Toast
Toffee
Tomato leaf
Truffle
Turkish delight

U

Underbrush

V

Vanilla
Vegetal
Violet

W

Walnut
Watermelon
Wet stone
Wet wool
White flowers
White peach
Wild herbs
Wild strawberry

Y

Yeast
Yellow peach
Yoghurt

Z

Zesty citrus

Common Fruit Descriptor Categories

Keep in mind, each fruit may give you sensations of under ripe, semi ripe, ripe, over ripe, stewed, cooked, jam or preserves, fruit cake/pudding or just the seeds, kernels, peel or zest of the fruit too, for example.

Citrus Fruits

Lemon
Lime
Grapefruit
Orange
Mandarin
Tangerine
Yuzu
Cumquat

Orchard Fruits

Apple
Pear
Quince

Stone Fruits

Peach
Nectarine
Apricot
Plum

Tropical Fruits

Pineapple
Mango
Passionfruit
Guava
Papaya
Lychee

Red Fruits

Strawberry
Raspberry
Red cherry
Cranberry
Red currant

Black Fruits

Blackberry
Blackcurrant
Black cherry
Blueberry
Mulberry

Common Non-Fruit Descriptors

Floral

Rose
Violet
Jasmine
Honeysuckle
Elderflower
Acacia
Lavender

Herbal

Mint
Sage
Thyme
Rosemary
Basil
Bay leaf

Spice

Pepper
Clove
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Cardamom
Star anise

Earth & Savoury

Forest floor
Mushroom
Leather
Truffle
Earth
Tobacco
Game

Oak-Derived Characters

Vanilla
Cedar
Toast
Coffee
Chocolate
Coconut
Smoke
Caramel

Common Structural and Mouthfeel Descriptors

Acidity

Crisp
Fresh
Vibrant
Lively
Zesty

Tannins

Fine
Silky
Velvety
Chalky
Grainy
Firm
Drying
Austere

Body

Light-bodied
Medium-bodied
Full-bodied

Texture

Creamy
Plush
Rich
Supple
Satin-like
Textural

Finish

Short
Medium
Long
Persistent
Lingering

The world's finest wines often display a combination of fruit, floral, spice, savoury, oak and textural descriptors that evolve continuously in the glass, contributing to the complexity and fascination that make wine appreciation such a rewarding pursuit.

Remember not to bore anyone to death by using these terms, they are more of a universal language available to all of us around the world, that can make trying new wines great fun in a room full of people who love exploring... especially if you are looking for fun food pairing possibilities.

Have Fun.