Flowers are beautiful; there’s no argument. However, a flower’s aroma is arguably even more spectacular. Our sense of smell is one of the biggest triggers of memory, and when we perceive specific flavors in wine it’s actually our sense of taste and smell working together. Perhaps that’s why wines with floral aromas are so popular. There are many different floral aromas commonly found in wine, particularly certain varietals.

• Traminette is a hybrid grape descendant from the Gewürztraminer grape, which is well known for its flowery nose. Traminette retained much of that characteristic and is often described with aromas of rose, geranium, lily, and honeysuckle.
• Chardonel, a hybrid of Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc, at times has a mild, soft aroma of apple blossoms.
• Vidal Blanc is a French-American hybrid known for its fresh floral bouquet of a springtime garden.
• While Vignoles, another French-American hybrid, is best known for its fruity characteristics, it is often described as having aromas of citrus blossom and honeysuckle.
• Norton, a Native American grape and the Official State Grape of Missouri, sometimes has a bouquet reminiscent of violets.

One of the exciting things about wine is that it can engage all of your senses. The next time you pour yourself a glass of award-winning, local wine, remember to stop and smell the roses (violets, lilies, honeysuckle, and all of the other wonderful floral aromas found in a glass of wine).