I’ve noticed something over and over again when people try to talk about wine… they freeze.

The second someone asks, “What do you smell?” it suddenly feels high pressure. There’s a sense there’s a right answer, and you might get it wrong.

But there isn’t.

You smell what you smell. That’s it.

When I’m teaching, I can almost see the moment it clicks that people feel like they’re being evaluated. And I hate that. Because wine isn’t meant to feel like a test (unless you’ve gone down the “certified cork dork” path like yours truly… then yes, it absolutely was).

Wine is meant to be an enjoyable experience, not something you pass or fail.

That’s why I made this aroma wheel. Honestly, I wanted to create something simple I could hand to someone and say, “Here—start here.”

It’s not meant to be exhaustive or perfect. It’s just a way to help connect what you’re already noticing to words that feel a little more familiar, because the language of wine can get overwhelming fast.

If you smell lemon, great. If all you can come up with is “this smells fresh,” that counts too.

The goal isn’t to sound impressive. It’s just to feel a little more confident the next time you take a sip.

How to Use This Wheel

Start with what stands out to you first.

Does it feel fresh? Fruity? Floral? Just pick a general direction and go from there.

Then move one step in.

If it leans citrus, is it closer to lemon or lime? If it feels fruity, are you thinking berries or something riper?

You don’t need to land on the perfect answer. The goal is simply to get a little more specific each time.

And if all you have is “this smells good,” that’s still a great place to start. The inner ring is just to give you some “vocabulary” if you feel overwhelmed in a wine-heavy setting. 

Practing is the fun part and, I promise, the more you practice, the easier it gets.