The wine aroma wheel

There are “flavor wheel” for chocolate, beef or dairy products. Developed in the mid eighties with Prof. Ann Noble of a group of California wine experts with a aroma wheel – also known as aroma circle – for wine.

It rests upon the olfactory properties of Californian wines, which were obtained under the local climate conditions from the typical California wines. In the “old world” but all other varieties often grow under much cooler conditions than in hot California. Not infrequently, the American Winery lacked the right words to describe the characteristics of local wines.


This shortage has prompted the Federation of German winemakers in 1995 to develop under the leadership of Dr. Ulrich Fischer, a very special aroma wheel for German wines. It was compiled after a careful tasting of over 300 German white and red wines and provides the appropriate vocabulary of the diversity of German wine can be put into words.

Than 318 selected wines served basis which took account of 20 white wines and 11 red wines. They came from 16 cohorts, 12 growing areas and all nine grades were represented. When choosing, it was typical wines from every region and every grape gathering, as well as specialties such as noble sweet wines, wines matured in barrels or very old wines.

Each wine was described in its odor and taste characteristics, and included all the terms in an individual flavor Pass. Then checked these other auditors aroma Pass, confirming the selection. In this procedure, more than 300 authentic terms for the description of German red and white wines will be collected, which formed the basis for the aroma wheel.

Here is an overview of the wines involved the development of wine aroma wheel for German wines:

White Wine: Riesling (66), Muller-Thurgau (Riesling x Sylvaner, 22), Silvaner (16), White Burgundy (13, Pinot Gris (11), Chardonnay (7), Kerner (9), Scheurebe (8), Gewurztraminer (6 ) Various (26, Morio-Muskat, Bacchus, Elbing, Chasselas / Chasselas, Ortega, Rieslaner, Würzer, Siegerrebe, Optima, Faber).

Red wine: Pinot Noir (46), Dornfelder (15), Portuguese (12), Pinot Meunier (7), Lviv (6), Various (17, Trollinger, Saint Laurent, Early Burgundy, Dark Fields, Domination, Cabernet Sauvignon)