Not All Bouquets are Flowers

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.

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