Not All Bouquets are Flowers

Posted by Alayne Gardner-Carimi on

Extra-Ordinary Flower Power

May celebrations — Mother’s Day, graduations and the start of wedding season  are often celebrated with blossoms. But did you know that many wines also have floral notes? Dare to be different and commemorate May’s special days with a specially chosen wine to be the bouquet or enhance the aroma of the posies of your choice.

Wine that has no scent is nothing more than a simple dose of alcohol. Wine is essentially elegant, and has infinite class….A good wine must be savored slowly to appreciate it in all its nuances. --Luigi Moio (author and expert oenologist)

Not sure what to get? We can help!  Every day is tasting day at vomFASS Madison! We have some excellent, elegant and approachable wines ready for all your celebrations. We also have great gift cards if your Mom likes to pick out her own “bouquet.” 

11 Most Common Floral Aromas in Wines

Apple Blossom - Sweet, fresh, fragrant, and found in Riesling and Champagne. 
Citrus Blossom - Sweet, honeyed, rich and complex, found in Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, and Chardonnay.
Geranium - A little herbaceous than the sweeter blossoms and roses, but with a more floral aroma than lavender.
Iris - Mild and smelling slightly of woods, with hints of violet and spices. You can find iris aromas in Sauvignon Blanc and Alberiño.
Lily of the Valley - Such a subtle, sweet, delicate smell. You’ll find it in Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. 
Orange Blossom - Honey, spices and sweetness. If you enjoy the intoxicating smell of fresh orange blossoms, you probably like Muscadet, Pinot Grigio, and Semillon. 
Rose - The gorgeous, sometimes sweet, sometimes clean aromas of roses can be experienced in white wines like Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling.

Noticing a trend here? Those lighter flowers that tend to have white blossoms with clean, fruity, sweet scents are going to be found in the white wines. So...let’s talk about reds.

Rose - This floral can also be found in soft reds like Syrah, Mourvèdre, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese.
Lavender - Such a woodsy, almost piney, and slightly sweet fragrance. You may notice this aroma in Chenin Blanc, Grenache, Muscat, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Syrah and Pinot Noir. 
Lilac - Lilac often reads as peppery in wines including Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Malbec. 
Peony - Delicate, mildly sweet, peppery scent. Found in Pinot Noir and rosés. 
Violet - Violet’s mildly sweet, soft, powdery scent can be experienced in Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec.

TRUE OR FALSE: There's no difference between Aroma and Bouquet in wines?

FALSE. Aromas in wine aren’t the same as bouquet. Seems like the same thing, but floral aromas are something in wine called primary aromas, which means they come from the grapes themselves. The bouquet comes from secondary aromas that are created during the art of winemaking.

🌷Stop and Smell the Blossoms🌷

In life, we are constantly surrounded by flowers and their scents, both directly and indirectly. However, it’s not always easy to distinguish one flower from another only by scent alone and it takes practice to distinguish the scents of specific flowers within a wine's aromatic bouquet. Training your nose helps in detecting floral nuances. Sensory scientists recommend smelling as much as possible the actual blossoms. Spring and Summer are great times to go out, take time to smell the flowers and listen to your nose.

Enjoyment is the Only Requirment

So, what if you don’t smell any flowers in your wine? That’s okay. It’s not a requirement to enjoy your glass and that’s really the point. Fine wine should be fun, easy and hassle free. This is just one fun way to hone your senses and bring a little mindful attention to your sipping. Check out the delicious wines below...better yet, come in and taste them this weekend!

 

Consider these Floral Beauties

Ethereo Albariño

...aromas of wild flowers, honeysuckle and citrus blossoms, with rich minerality and bursts of herby stone fruits...

A great match with salmon or pork belly. The acidity in this Albariño also pairs well with lemon based dishes, pasta with seafood, and vegetables.

La Linda Torrontés

...aromas of white flowers meld with hints of rose and lavender, while notes of citrus and pine play...

Ideal to serve as an aperitif. This wine goes very well with poultry, fish, and tofu as well as spicy Thai and typical Argentinian dishes such as empanadas and corn pie.

Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc

...aromas of lemon blossoms and white flower accented with buttery notes...

The beautifully bright and floral nature of this Sauvignon Blanc is perfectly suited to both seafood and Asian-spiced cuisine.

Terre Stregate Svelato Falanghina del Sannio

...aromas of wild flowers, honeysuckle and citrus blossoms, rich minerality...

Excellent with appetizers, grilled seafood dishes, pasta with cacio e pepe, lemon garlic vegetables, and fresh cheeses.


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