Flavour chemistry: exploring aroma compounds in red wine

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Contact us

If you would like to book over the phone or have any particular enquiries about this event, please call our Student Services team on 020 7089 3841 or email studentservicesteam@wsetglobal.com

What flavours result from barrel ageing wine? What do ‘cork taint’ and 'volatile acidity' smell like? Find out at our wine tasting workshop with The Art of Tasting’s Sietze Wijma.

Event details

Hundreds of different flavour and aroma compounds have been identified in wine. These can be traced back to different grape varieties, winemaking techniques and microorganisms.

At this unique workshop, flavour chemistry specialist Sietze Wijma – who boasts an MSc in in Sensory Science – will explain the origins of 10 important flavour compounds in red wine and teach you to recognise them. The compounds that will be discussed include isoamyl acetate, eucalyptol and TCA.

How will it work? You will be given 11 samples of the same neutral wine, then a variety of aroma compounds will be added to 10 glasses to help you identify specific flavours. The session will conclude with a blind recognition activity to put your tasting skills to the test.

This is the perfect event for any intermediate-level wine students or enthusiasts looking to take their tasting ability to the next level!

Please note: due to high demand, this is a repeat of the same event that was run in September 2022.

We're also hosting this workshop for white wines – book here.


About the presenter, Sietze Wijma

Sietze Wijma

Sietze is a wine and beer enthusiast, based in the Netherlands. With his company The Art of Tasting he delivers unique tastings, shares his knowledge about flavour chemistry and helps people become better tasters. He has previously worked in England for a producer of flavour chemicals. Sietze is a student for the WSET Diploma, is an Advanced Cicerone®️, and has a MSc in Sensory Science.


Booking terms and conditions

Payment in full must be made at the time of booking and places are not confirmed until payment has been received. Unfortunately we cannot take provisional bookings.

Cancellations and transfers

  • Cancellations and transfers can be made up to two weeks before the event.
  • Cancellations within 10 working days are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another event.
  • If you need to change a name on the booking, please give us as much notice as possible.
  • WSET School London reserves the right to cancel an event. If necessary, a full refund or transfer will be offered.

Please note: The sample list and speaker/s may be subject to change.


Tasting level

Intermediate: An in-depth exploration of a particular topic. Some prior knowledge is beneficial – such as a WSET Level 2 qualification – but these sessions will be enjoyable and educational for anyone with an interest in the subject.

Contact us

If you would like to book over the phone or have any particular enquiries about this event, please call our Student Services team on 020 7089 3841 or email studentservicesteam@wsetglobal.com