Have you ever tried to identify the subtle aromas in a glass of red wine? At a recent event at The 83 Winery, we took wine tasting to the next level using a red wine aroma kit—and it turned out to be a huge hit!
The Aroma Adventure Begins
I’ve always wished I had a better nose for wine. I know what I like and can often tell a particular varietal by smell but have never been able to identify individual aromas. I was aware of aroma kits so when I saw one on Amazon, I decided to give it a try.
When I got it, it started out just for me, then to share with a friend, then with a group of friends. Before I knew it, we had decided to do a wine tasting at The 83 Winery using the kit. Our friend Doug Ferrero does many of our tastings. He thought it was a great idea so we set a date for the tasting.
Fourteen people gathered for the tasting of three delicious red wines, but with a twist from our usual tastings. Before sipping, guests used the red wine aroma kit—a collection of concentrated scent vials—to see if they could match the scents to what they smelled in their glass.
It was like wine trivia for your nose—and everyone had so much fun with it!
How the Tasting Worked Using the Red Wine Aroma Kit
Each guest used a simplified tasting sheet I created for the event, where they could note:
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Wine color, body, and aroma (before and after swirling)
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Whether the aroma matched something in the kit
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Flavor notes like fruity, spicy, or earthy
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Their overall rating and “Would you drink this again?” answers
Guests Got Into It!
Even though I didn’t get to participate much—I was busy helping Doug—I loved watching everyone light up as they recognized scents like:
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🍒 Cherry
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🌿 Herbs
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🍫 Cocoa
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🌶 Pepper
And let’s be honest—there was a lot of laughter when people disagreed on what they smelled! And, oh my gosh, some of the names people came up with for scents they couldn’t quite identify! 😄
Why an Aroma Kit?
Wine tasting isn’t just about flavor—it’s about the full sensory experience. That includes what you see, what you taste, and most importantly, what you smell. In fact, up to 80% of what we perceive as flavor comes from our sense of smell. That’s where an aroma kit comes in.
An aroma kit is a collection of concentrated scent vials—things like cherry, pepper, leather, tobacco, plum, oak, and even more unexpected aromas like mushroom or smoke. These are common notes found in red wines, but many people don’t know how to identify them.
Using the kit during the tasting helped everyone:
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Build their aroma vocabulary – Instead of saying “this smells like wine,” guests could start to say, “I’m getting dark berries and a hint of spice.”
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Boost their confidence – For many people, wine tasting feels intimidating. The aroma kit turned it into a fun, hands-on experience that made people feel like pros.
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Sharpen their senses – Smelling the aroma vials before and during the tasting primed their brains to recognize those same scents in the wines.
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Discover personal preferences – By identifying specific aromas they liked or disliked, guests could better understand the styles of wine they enjoy most.
It also added a sense of playfulness and curiosity to the experience. People were laughing, guessing, and comparing notes—like a friendly competition that made the whole event feel lively and inclusive.
If you’re someone who enjoys wine but struggles to describe what you’re tasting, like me, I can’t recommend an aroma kit enough. It’s an investment that enhances every sip—and makes group tastings even more engaging.
Want to Host Your Own? Here’s How:
You can easily recreate this experience at home or with friends:
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🛒 Get a red wine aroma kit (like this one)
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🍷 Choose 2–3 different red wines
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📝 Print a simple tasting sheet (like this one I created)
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🧀 Add palate cleansers (crackers, cheese, water)
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🎉 Keep it light and fun!
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Final Thoughts on Tasting with the Red Wine Aroma Kit
This event was such a fun and engaging way to explore the world of red wine. I’m already planning more experiences like this in the future—maybe white wine next time?
Curious about aroma kits or want to try your own wine tasting party? Leave a comment below or message me—I’d love to share tips!
