Wine Flavour Tasting Chart
Wine flavour charts are the vinous equivalent of those colour wheels that interior decorators use – theoretically helpful but potentially overwhelming when you're simply trying to decide whether you prefer blue or green.
The good news is that unlike those designers who insist your living room must feature 'complementary accent colours in precisely balanced proportions,' wine appreciation has no such rigid requirements.
This chart isn't a test you need to pass but a tool to help articulate what you're already experiencing. If your palate picks up blackcurrant while someone else tastes black cherry, neither of you is wrong – you're just accessing different parts of the same flavour spectrum, rather like how some people hear the bass line in a song while others focus on the melody.
NB:
For a more detailed breakdown of wine aromatics and flavours, explore our comprehensive flavour guide that expands on this infographic.
Visual aids support sensory development, but also learn to identify these flavours consistently through structured tasting practice.
FORMING A VINOUS PICTURE
This chart serves as a reference and a training tool. Each time you use it during a tasting, you're not just enjoying a glass of wine – you're building a mental library of sensory experiences that enhance all future wine encounters.
TASTE LIKE A PRO
Professional tasters use structured approaches to identify and catalogue flavours. This visual guide distills their methodology into an accessible format that helps bridge the gap between casual drinking and mindful tasting.
SPEAK THE LOCAL LINGO (OR AT LEAST HAVE THE OPTION)
The ability to precisely identify flavours transforms how you discuss wine with others. Rather than vague generalities, you can articulate specific characteristics that explain your preferences and discoveries.
WANT MORE?
Ready to test your flavour identification skills? Enhance your tasting experience with our curated subscription wines, selected to showcase distinctive flavour profiles. Consider it a delicious form of sensory training—eschewing self-help for self-gratification.
Also don't miss our cheese and charcuterie matching infographic.