The use of
wine tasting descriptors allows the taster to qualitatively relate the
aromas and
flavors that the taster experiences and can be used in assessing the overall quality of
wine. Wine writers, like
Karen MacNeil author of
The Wine Bible, differentiate
wine tasters from casual enthusiasts; tasters attempt to give an objective description of the wine's taste (often taking a systematic approach to tasting), casual enthusiasts appreciate wine but pause their examination sooner than tasters. The primary source of a person's ability to taste wine is derived from his or her
olfactory senses. A taster's own personal experiences play a significant role in conceptualizing what he or she is tasting and attaching a description to that perception. The individual nature of tasting means that descriptors may be perceived differently among various tasters.