Table of contents

Nose

The "nose" of a wine encompasses its aromas in four stages, from immediately after pouring to subtle scents in the empty glass.
Badge with the Mathier logo

Diego Mathier

6. January 2025 - 7 min reading time

Table of contents

The most important facts in brief

  • The “nose” describes the scent or aroma of a wine and is a central aspect of wine tasting.
  • The nose is divided into four stages: first nose (immediately after pouring), second nose (after some time in the glass), third nose (after swirling the glass) and fourth nose (after smelling the empty glass).
  • The nose of a wine can include fruity, floral, spicy, earthy or even animal aromas, influenced by grape variety, climate, soil conditions and maturation.
  • The nose provides information about the degree of maturity, complexity, freshness and potential development of a wine, but remains subjective and varies from taster to taster.

The term “nose” is used in the wine world to describe the scent or aroma of a wine.
It refers to the olfactory experience that occurs when smelling the wine.
The nose of a wine is an important aspect of wine tasting, as the sense of smell is closely linked to the sense of taste and helps to perceive complex flavors and nuances in the wine. nase mann riecht am rotweinglas The term “nose” is used both for the taster’s sense of smell and as a synonym for the smell of wine itself.
It simply sounds nicer than assigning an odor to the wine.
The word “smell” tends to have a negative connotation, as smells have a predominantly negative connotation, whereas aromas are predominantly attributed to pleasant smells.
As a result, the term aroma is often used alongside the term nose, even though both ultimately refer to the smell of the wine.
And when we talk about a large nose, we are of course not referring to the true size of the human organ.
Rather, what is meant is that it is a strong and intense smell or fragrance. nase frau riecht am rotweinglas The nose of a wine can encompass a wide range of aromas and scents, ranging from fruity and floral to spicy, earthy or even animal.
Each wine has its own characteristic aromas, which are influenced by various factors, including the grape variety, climate and soil conditions, winemaking techniques and ageing. nase weinsommelier riecht am rotweinglas When tasting a wine, the nose is often considered in four stages:

  1. The first nose (“le premier nez” in French), which focuses on the aromas perceived immediately after the wine is poured.
  2. The second nose, where the wine stays a little longer in the glass and further aromas can develop.
  3. The third nose, where the wine is smelled again after swirling the glass to reveal any hidden or more subtle aromas.
  4. The fourth nose, in which the last olfactory impressions are gained by smelling the empty glass.
    They can confirm earlier impressions or strongly persistent aromas can only now be clearly expressed.
    The fourth nose is also often used to definitively determine whether a wine has been matured in barrique barrels.

nase barriquekeller The nose of a wine can help provide information about the wine’s level of maturity, its complexity, its freshness and its potential evolution over time.
However, it is important to note that the perception of the nose is subjective and can vary from person to person.
Everyone has their own sensations and associations with certain aromas, so the description of a wine’s nose can vary from taster to taster. nase weinsommelier riecht am weissweinglas

Subscribe to our newsletter & benefit

Subscribe to our newsletter and benefit from interesting offers.

By clicking on Register, you confirm that you accept our terms and conditions.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

e-mail

Send us an e-mail and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Telephone

Give us a call and speak directly to one of our employees.

Social Media

Contact us on our social media channels.