The olfactory range of wine - Can Vidalet

The olfactory range of wine

When we do a wine tasting, as we explained in our old blog post we differentiate three phases: visual, olfactory and gustatory.

Today we will focus on the olfactory phase and its colors. Yes, colors. And it is a useful tool to determine the smell and, consequently, the nuances that define a wine within in the wheel of aromas. This wheel is divided into different colors along with their designated categories.

This visual instrument makes it easier for us to perform the olfactory tasting. The shape it has is usually circular. It starts from the center with the main colors and categories, dividing into different shades, until reaching the specific smell and color.

The designated chroma depends on the odor you are defining. If we catch a fresh smell, we think green. If we perceive a more floral scent, pink comes to our mind. Taking this suggestion into account, we find a great typology of tones and undertones.

The operation is very simple.

1. We take the center of the wheel as a reference. After the first impression of the wine, we identify the main category that evokes us.

2. After choosing the first category, we continue to delve into the smell and look for the subcategory that best defines it.

3. We go through the same process, depending on the subcategories that we find during the tour.

4. When we get to the outside of the wheel, we already have our defined smell.

This instrument is useful both for beginners in wine tasting, as they help the olfactory memory not yet sufficiently developed; as for experts, to remember the usual aromas of a wine.

The olfactory tasting is complex, since there are many nuances and aromas that can escape us. If you are going to start in the world of wine, we recommend the use of these types of tools.

At Can Vidalet, we facilitate the process by describing the mouth and nose tasting of all our wines. You can find them at our catalogue.