When wine enthusiasts talk about tastings, fruit profiles often take the spotlight. While terms such as pencil shavings or cat pee might pop up, it’s the fruity notes that resonate most broadly, primarily because wine originates from fruit. Yet, it’s seldom that grapes get a mention in the descriptor list.
Connoisseurs might draw parallels between the aromas of wines and various fruits like strawberries or cherries, creating an expectation of the wine’s taste. A mention of “green apple and lime zest” in a riesling, for example, provides a sensory cue for prospective tasters, even more so than a reference to its characteristic petroleum scent, which might bewilder those less acquainted with wine terminology.
The Role of Aromatic Compounds
These fruity notes aren’t mere imagination – they relate to real aromatic compounds in the wine. Esters, formed during fermentation, evoke the scent of bananas, pears, and pineapples. Meanwhile, grapes bring their own aromas, like thiols suggesting tropical fruits, norisoprenoids associated with dried fruits, and terpenes that offer citrus and floral notes.
The Essence of Wine: More Than Just Aroma
Although the discussion of aromatic compounds can seem academic, wine’s charm extends beyond these scientific aspects. It encompasses experiences and memories, such as enjoying a glass in a particular season or sharing it with special people – what Nancy Sinatra referred to as an “angel’s kiss in spring.”
Top Picks for Fruity Wines
This guide explores varied fruity aromas in wines from different regions and grape varieties. Whether it’s the apricot and orange blossom notes of a moscatel and torrontes blend from Chile, or the damsons and dark cherries of a Georgian saperavi, there’s a spectrum of fruit aromas to explore in wines this summer.
Suggestions for Tasting
Pipeño Blanco 2024, A Los Vinateros Bravos (£20.90, Monty Wines, 12.5%) features apricot, peach, and citrus notes in this Chilean white crafted from old bush vines.
W/O Organic Nero d’Avola Rosato 2024 (£14.99, Laithwaites, 12%) boasts a medley of summer berries in this organic rosé from Sicily.
Cote Mas Orange (£10.25, Waitrose, 13%) offers a peachy flavour with zesty orange notes ideal for introducing the orange wine genre.
M&S Found Saperavi (£12, Ocado, 13%) presents a Georgian opportunity, with its deep, dark red fruit aromas perfect for a barbecue.
Alain Grignon Reserve Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2023/24 (£12.50, Majestic, 12.5%) is a spicy option with cherry and dried cranberry accents, ideal for group settings.
Flavia Catarratto Zibibbo (£33, Ocado, 12.5%) delivers an explosion of tropical notes like pineapple and grapefruit, reminiscent of a cocktail umbrella-topped drink.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theguardian.com.