How to Identify Fruity Notes (in 3 minutes).

The 60-Second Warm-Up

• Prep your nose: 3 quick breaths through the nose, one through the mouth.
• Swirl & sniff cadence: 2 short sniffs + 1 long sniff, glass at chin level.
• Anchor a family, not a single fruit: Start broad (“red fruit”) → then narrow (“ripe cherry”).

Fruit Families Cheat Sheet

Use these families out loud. If you’re unsure, pick the family first, then offer 1–2 examples.

• Citrus: lemon, lime, grapefruit → think Sauvignon Blanc, coastal whites.
• Stone fruit: peach, apricot, nectarine → often Chardonnay (unoaked), Viognier.
• Tropical: pineapple, mango, passion fruit → warmer-climate whites.
• Red fruit: strawberry, cherry, raspberry → Pinot Noir, País.
• Black fruit: blackberry, blackcurrant (cassis), plum → Cabernet, Carménère, Syrah.
• Dried/jammy: fig, date, raisin, cherry jam → riper styles, late harvest.

Quick Map: Common Grapes → Likely Fruit

• Sauvignon Blanc (coastal/cool): lime, grapefruit, gooseberry, sometimes passion fruit.
• Chardonnay (unoaked/cool): green apple, pear → (with some ripeness) peach/nectarine.
• Pinot Noir (cool): strawberry, cherry, cranberry.
• Carménère: black plum, blackberry + subtle green pepper/herbal edge.
• Cabernet Sauvignon: blackcurrant (cassis), black cherry, cedar.
• Syrah (cool-to-warm): blackberry, blueberry; sometimes black olive, pepper.
• País / Carignan: bright red cherry, raspberry; rustic, juicy profile.

Temperature & Glass Hacks

• Too cold? Fruit is muted. Warm the bowl in your hands 15–30 sec.
• Too warm? Alcohol dominates. Give 30–60 sec rest; avoid over-swirling.

Guest-Facing Script (10 seconds)

Let’s start broad. This shows red fruit, mostly ripe cherry with a hint of raspberry. As it opens, you’ll notice a touch of spice.

Practice Drill (1 minute)

1. Smell once → say the family (out loud).
2. Smell again → choose one fruit from that family.
3. Sip → confirm or swap. Keep it to two descriptors max.

Common Pitfalls (and fixes)

• Over-describing (five fruits): pick two.
• Smelling alcohol: lower the pour, sniff from the rim, not deep center.
• Blank nose: reset with neutral crackers or smell your sleeve/wrist (neutral fabric).