Perfumed might seem better suited to your beauty cabinet and not something you want to find in your wine glass. But this wine term can be a positive thing to discover while sipping. So what is a perfumed wine? Wine Terms Explained unpacks some weird wine terms used to describe wine. There are some truly odd ones out there, and sometimes it can be hard to know what the tasting notes even mean. So let’s break down what this means!
What is a perfumed wine?
All wines have a unique flavour profile and aromas, and some have enhanced fragrance notes. You might have heard of wine being aromatic or fragrant, and perfumed is quite similar.
Perfumed wines are usually used to describe strong, sweet and floral aromas you find in wines. These wines are highly fragrant, enveloping, round in the mouth and with a certain texture.
With aromatic varieties, winemakers often reduce the amount of aging in oak barrels or bottles, and wines are usually aged in tanks to maintain the aromas. These wines are usually easy to drink and made to be drunk early.
What wines are perfumed?
You’d be forgiven for thinking perfumed is only a descriptor for white wines. A lot of the more well-known fragrant varieties are found in white wines. However, some easy-drinking red wines with bright fruit aromas and low tannins can also be perfumed. So if you love red, you can still enjoy this wine term in your wine.
Here are some varieties to look out for:
Red wines
- Beaujolais and Beaujolais Nouveau
- Lighter examples of Pinot Noir (Bourgogne Rouge, examples from Germany, Switzerland and cooler regions)
- Jura Red wines like Trousseau and Ploussard
White wines
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Gewürztraminer
- Muscat
- Viognier
- Pinot Gris
Learn more about some of the wine terms out there with Wine Terms Explained