What does the nose of a white wine reveal?

Open or Closed? Your glass is well-filled, and you’ve already examined the wine’s appearance from every angle. Now, all you want to do is taste it. But not so fast! It would be a shame not to savor its aromas first. So, stick your nose into the glass and share your first impressions with your tasting partners. If the nose seems pleasant and very aromatic right away, we would say the wine is "open." If you don’t smell much? Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you lack a sense of smell but probably that your wine is "closed." To understand what we’re talking about, move on to step #2.

Swirl It! Whether the wine is red, rosé, or white, it always has what professional tasters call a "second nose." Swirl your glass with a little rotating motion of your wrist. Smell the wine again. If you detect the same aromas, it means your wine is sufficiently aerated and well-opened. On the other hand, if you notice a pronounced presence of aromas on the second nose, it could mean that the wine’s aromas were initially closed but opened up when you swirled the glass. This often indicates a young wine, and in this case, it might be wise to decant it. To learn how to do this, check out our article.

Fruity, Floral, or Spicy? Now, let’s move on to the final step, which is probably the most challenging: identifying the aromas. This isn’t about guessing the winemaking technique but rather about tapping into your memories and familiar scents. Wine aromas are categorized into three main types: primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas. Primary aromas come directly from the fermented grape; they can be fruity, floral, vegetal, or mineral. In white wines, you’ll mostly find aromas of yellow or white-fleshed fruits (citrus, peach, pear, apricot, banana, lychee, quince) and flowers (hawthorn, rose, acacia).

Next are what are called secondary aromas, which develop during fermentation. Butter and brioche are the main secondary aromas found in white wine. Finally, there are tertiary aromas, also known as aging aromas, as they develop during the wine’s aging process (needless to say, young wines lack these). For example, a nose revealing aromas of honey, toasted bread, or dried fruits (nuts, prunes) could indicate a white wine that has begun its aging process.

You now know the main characteristics of a white wine’s nose. Also, check out step 3 of the tasting: tasting the wine.

FAQ - The nose of a white wine

How do you know if a white wine is open or closed?

Put your nose into the glass as soon as the wine is poured. If the aromas come through clearly and generously right away, the wine is said to be open. If you smell almost nothing, it is closed and needs to be aerated before it can be fully enjoyed.

What is the second nose of a white wine?

The second nose refers to the aromas released after you swirl the wine in the glass. A small rotating motion of the wrist is enough to aerate it. If the scents become more intense at this point, it often signals a young wine that may be worth decanting.

What are the primary aromas of a white wine?

Primary aromas come directly from the fermented grape. In a white wine, you mostly find yellow or white-fleshed fruits such as citrus, peach, pear, apricot, banana, lychee and quince, along with floral notes of hawthorn, rose or acacia.

What is the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary aromas?

Primary aromas come from the grape (fruit, flowers, vegetal or mineral notes). Secondary aromas develop during fermentation, such as butter and brioche. Tertiary aromas, also called ageing aromas, appear as the wine evolves: honey, toasted bread and dried fruits.

How can you open up a white wine with a closed nose?

Start by swirling the wine in the glass to aerate it and wake up its aromas. If the scents stay faint and the wine is young, decanting helps to reveal them. These simple gestures gradually release the aromas still locked inside a restrained wine.